Journalist vs Kangana: 'Kapde utarne ki azadi' to 'generation gutter': When politicians need to be schooled over 'language'
PTC News Desk: The war of words between a senior journalist and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut took an ugly turn after latter's controversial remarks about young women participating in recent student protests over the paper leak issue.
The heated exchange began after India Today's Managing Editor Preeti Choudhary issued a sharp rebuttal over series of Instagram posts shared by Kangana Ranaut in what she described the women protesters AT Janrtar Mantar as 'generational gutters'.
While refering the women, who took part in the demonstration, as generation gutter, she also used highly despicable terms such as 'ugly', 'corrupt', 'characterless', for them. And when we thought Kangana was all out and about, she even alleged that those particular women were 'living off parents' and are highly indulged in drugs and alcohol.
The BJP MP's unconscionable remarks targeting women didn't go off the record and drew massive criticism from social media users, who accused her of making sweeping misogynistic generalisations about young women.
Responding in her video commentary, "Preeti's Take," Choudhry on her show argued that while abusive language or inappropriate conduct during protests should be condemned, it was unfair to stereotype an entire generation of women. She said criticism of individual behaviour should not become a basis for branding all young women with derogatory labels.
Kind words ???? https://t.co/TrdJsn3cqW — Preeti Choudhry (@PreetiChoudhry) July 29, 2026
Anxious Kangana seemingly couldn't take the loud public criticism and issued yet another demeaning video with featuring herself directly addressing the journalist with labels as provoking 'kapde utarne ki azadi'.
The derogatory remarks aoimed at Choudhary were bound to get another sharp response. Choudhry questioned Kangana's remarks suggesting women were seeking the "freedom to remove clothes" ("kapde utarne ki azzadi"), saying that was the point where the actor's argument lost credibility.
She maintained that women protesting government policies should not be judged differently simply because they expressed anger in public.
"I hope you choose your words more carefully in the future because your words matter, like your direct borderline abusive tweet to me," @PreetiChoudhry on Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam )#StudentsProtest #KanganaRanaut #GenZWomen #Viral #YouthProtest #TTP #ToThePoint pic.twitter.com/u8qKzTSlwd — IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) July 29, 2026
Peaceful protest a democratic right
The heated episode has not only reignited the debate over gendered stereotype but also the language used by our so-called parliamentarians and other leaders in political spectrum while commenting on the citizens, the very citizens who elect them and whom they are supposed to represent on public platform
Since when exercising your democratic right to protest gave the politicians a free hand to subject the protesters to humiliation and use objectionabe language for them.
The remarks specifically targeting young women and tainting the entire generation while stereotyping them not only reflects Ranaut's misogynistic mindset but also gives a seeming credibility to every crass comment hurled at her.
- PTC NEWS
