Kangana Ranaut Condemns Abusive Language During Student Protests

Kangana Ranaut, a Member of Parliament for the Bharatiya Janata Party, has condemned recent remarks made by protesters targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi during student demonstrations in Delhi. The protests took place at Jantar Mantar, where demonstrators faced a crackdown from the police on July 20.

Ranaut expressed outrage over what she termed 'filthy abuse' directed towards Modi and his late mother, stating that such language is 'completely unacceptable' in a democratic setting. Speaking to reporters outside the Parliament, she remarked, 'Our 75-year-old Prime Minister was targeted, and filthy abuse was hurled at his late mother.'

The actor turned politician raised questions regarding the character and upbringing of the protesters. She noted that many young individuals participating in these protests might be financially dependent on their parents, questioning their ability to afford legal representation should they face court cases. 'We have been building our own careers since the age of sixteen. We have never been a burden on our parents,' she asserted.

Her comments came in response to allegations that the Delhi Police had instructed social media platforms to remove posts and videos that contained offensive remarks against the Prime Minister. These posts surfaced during protests that followed the police’s intervention during the student-led 'Chalo Sansad' movement.

The Opposition, particularly the Congress party, has called for a parliamentary discussion concerning what they describe as the 'brutal and disproportionate' force used by the police against students. Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi has questioned the alleged use of pellet guns during the protests, while the Delhi Police have defended their actions, stating that the situation had turned violent.

In a statement regarding the police's actions, Saurav Das, a spokesperson for the Coalition of Teachers and Students (CJP), accused the government of engaging in censorship. 'Criticism and satire directed at the Prime Minister are part of a healthy democracy,' Das commented, emphasising that attempts to suppress such content often lead to increased visibility and engagement.

Ranaut's remarks also highlighted her disapproval of the language used by the protesters, referring to videos that went viral from the CJP protests as 'puke inducing.' She described the behaviour displayed in these videos as disturbing, questioning the moral integrity of the demonstrators.

In response to Ranaut's statements, Das suggested that her opinions were largely ignored, even among her party members. He stated, 'Even members of her own party don’t pay much heed to Kangana Ranaut or take her seriously, so why should we?' Adding to his criticism, he referenced a past comment made by Ranaut regarding her perception of the role of an MP, calling into question her seriousness in political matters.

As the discourse around the protests continues, both supporters and critics of the Prime Minister, along with youth activists, remain engaged in discussions about the balance of free expression and respectful dialogue in India’s democratic landscape.