Kangana Ranaut Clarifies ‘Generation Gutter’ Remark: "Not All Youth, But Those Who Label Themselves as Cockroaches"
New Delhi, [Date of Publication]: Politician and acclaimed actor Kangana Ranaut has issued a detailed clarification regarding her recent controversial "Generation Gutter" remarks, asserting that her comments were not a broad indictment of all young people but specifically targeted individuals who "label themselves as cockroaches."
Speaking to ANI on Wednesday, Ranaut addressed the mounting backlash that followed her initial statements, which were made in response to videos of a protest at Jantar Mantar concerning the NEET-UG paper leak. She firmly stated that her remarks were aimed at a very specific segment, not the entire youth demographic.
"Those who call themselves cockroaches, and we say that cockroaches emerge from gutters, what is wrong with that? My point is simply this: if people label themselves as cockroaches, and we say the gutter is their home, why should they be offended?" Ranaut questioned, defending her choice of analogy. "I certainly don’t consider myself a cockroach. If someone were to say I live in a gutter, I would deny it. But if someone claims to be a cockroach, then naturally, they would live in a gutter. Where else?" she added, emphasizing the self-referential nature of her criticism.
Ranaut explicitly rejected the interpretation that she had referred to an entire generation in a derogatory manner. "But to claim that I was referring to all youth is simply not the case," she clarified, aiming to dispel the widespread misapprehension of her comments.
‘I specifically referred to some people or some women’
Elaborating on the targeted nature of her criticism, Ranaut explained, "If some young people use drugs, or if we discuss the current trend of addiction involving drugs, betting, gambling, or the dark web, addressing a specific segment of the youth doesn’t mean I was making a blanket statement about everyone."
She reiterated, "Did I say that all youth belong to the gutter? I specifically referred to some people or some women. So, how else should we address this?"
The genesis of the controversy lies in Ranaut’s earlier criticism of videos from an agitation at Jantar Mantar, led by the ‘Cockroach Janata Party’ (CJP), protesting the NEET-UG paper leak. In a series of Instagram Stories, she had described these videos as "puke-inducing" and expressed strong objections to the language and conduct of some protesters. It was in this context that she had previously stated, "I call them Generation Gutter. Some of them have nothing to offer to the system. They are not good at studies…"
Kangana Ranaut takes aim at Opposition
Beyond clarifying her "Generation Gutter" comments, the BJP MP also used the opportunity to critique the Opposition’s stance on a parliamentary discussion concerning the student protests. The government had indicated that Union Home Minister Amit Shah would respond to the debate.
"Do you expect Amit Shah ji to come out into the Parliament courtyard and answer you one-on-one? So, what can you expect from people with such low IQs?" Ranaut remarked, directing her criticism at the Opposition’s expectations.
Case filed against Kangana Ranaut over ‘Generation Gutter’ remark
Meanwhile, the contentious remarks have also escalated into legal action. In Agra on Wednesday, Rajiv Gandhi Bar Association president and advocate Ramashankar Sharma announced that he has filed a case against Ranaut in connection with her "Generation Gutter" comments. The Special Court for MPs/MLAs is slated to hear the matter on August 21, marking a new chapter in the ongoing controversy surrounding the actor-turned-politician.
