BJP MP and actor Kangana Ranaut has triggered a fresh row after criticising Gen Z protesters in Delhi. She said the Prime Minister, at 75, was targeted, and abusive language was used against his late mother. She asked what kind of students behave this way. Also, she questioned whether these protesters could afford Supreme Court lawyers if they ever needed one. She said she has supported herself since she was sixteen and never depended on her parents.
Her comments come days after nationwide protests linked to the NEET-UG paper leak. The protests were led by the Cockroach Janta Party and took place at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar for weeks, demanding accountability for the paper leak and the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over student suicides. The demonstrations ended on Saturday after Pradhan resigned. A march from Jantar Mantar to Parliament led to a police crackdown, with officials using lathi charges, tear gas and pellet guns to disperse the crowd.
#WATCH | Delhi: BJP MP Kangana Ranaut says, “Our 75-year-old Prime Minister was targeted, and filthy abuse was hurled at his late mother. We, too, have participated in student protests. But what kind of students are these, and what kind of obscene language are they using? In what… pic.twitter.com/S4uFS0C9NI
— ANI (@ANI) July 28, 2026
‘Puke-inducing’ reels
On Monday, Ranaut posted a series of Instagram Stories criticising the protesters’ language, appearance and behaviour, calling the viral reels “puke-inducing.” She wrote that she had never seen so much ugliness in one place. She said the language used in the clips left her disturbed and every frame felt crass.
Also, she questioned who was raising these young protesters and said India is known for elegance and cultural sophistication. She referred to the protesters calling themselves “cockroaches,” a nod to the group’s name, and said there was no contradiction between that label and their conduct.
Ranaut also said she needed a break from social media. She mentioned a claim that 60 metric tonnes of waste were left behind by the Cockroach Janta Party after the protest at Jantar Mantar.
Political backlash
Her remarks did not go unanswered. Congress leader Bhai Jagtap said students, including women, were harassed and mistreated during the protest, and asked how Ranaut, as a woman, felt no remorse.
AIMIM leader Waris Pathan called her language condemnable and said she should apologise to all of Gen Z. He also questioned whether she even understood the NEET issue before commenting.
Social media users pushed back too. Some pointed out she stayed silent when the NEET papers leaked and when students died by suicide over it. Others said her own films had crass content, and some accused her of forgetting her own past behaviour at Bollywood parties.
This is not the first time Ranaut has courted controversy through social media posts. She has previously drawn criticism and legal complaints over remarks on farmers’ protests and the Sikh community, among other issues.