The party’s national spokesperson, Supriya Shrinet, says BJP leaders are competing to see who can stoop to the lowest in their speeches
NEW DELHI — Congress leaders have reacted strongly to recent remarks made by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmaker from Himachal Pradesh, Kangana Ranaut, targeting party leader and the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi. Criticising the actress, filmmaker and Mandi MP, several party leaders described her comments as disrespectful, attention-seeking, and evidence of a “sick mentality”.
In an interaction with the media at Parliament House on Wednesday, Kangana referred to Rahul Gandhi as a “tapori” (vagabond) and accused him of making women MPs uncomfortable in Parliament.
“Hum mahilaon ko bahut zyada unko dekhkar uncomfortable feel hota hai, kyunki ekdum jaise tapori ki tarah wo aate hain aur kisi ko bhi ‘aae tu aise karke, tu tadak kar’ kehte hain. (We women feel very uncomfortable seeing him, because he comes across like a street thug and talks rudely, saying things like ‘hey you, do this’ in a rough, disrespectful way)” Kangana was quoted by the IANS news agency as saying.
The national spokesperson for the Congress, Supriya Shrinet, suggested that Kangana needs a psychiatrist, stating she is in a “race” to make the most absurd comments.
Shrinate said BJP leaders are competing to see who can stoop to the lowest in their speeches,” by making the most vile and absurd remarks.
She targeted Kangana, describing the actor-turned-politician as having a history of making “outlandish remarks” and claimed her statements have deteriorated over time.
Congress MP from Tamil Nadu, Jothimani Sennimalai, stated that being a celebrity or dressing well does not make someone a good person, adding that Kangana has no standing to comment on Rahul Gandhi.
Punjab Congress President Amrinder Singh Raja Warring criticised the statement, saying Gandhi’s presence in Parliament should not be compared to the glamour world.
“How does she feel that they come behaving like goons? Rahul Gandhi isn’t coming here to make a film. She might think Parliament is some studio where one has to wear good clothes, be perfectly groomed, and act all polished,” Warring told IANS in response to her remarks.
He alleged that Kangana repeatedly targets Gandhi because she believes the BJP has sidelined her. “She keeps remembering Rahul again and again because she feels that the BJP has forgotten her now and that she is no longer of any use. She thinks that if she says something about Rahul, she might stay relevant,” he said.
Taking a dig at her acting career, Warring added: “Now even her shop in Bollywood is shut, and it is shut here as well. So, just to keep her shop running, she keeps making remarks about Rahul.”
Aslam Sheikh, Congress MLA representing the Malad West Assembly Constituency in Maharashtra’s Mumbai, stated that the BJP MP should examine her own past before criticising others.
“Kangana should know about herself too; no need to go too far back. You can find out from Google what she used to do earlier and what her habits were,” Sheikh said.
He further took a swipe at the BJP for giving her a party ticket. “When giving a party ticket, information is taken about how a person has worked and served. I would applaud the BJP for promoting Kangana after watching her old videos. What else can you expect from them? Such statements will continue to come,” he added.
Earlier in September 2025, former Tamil Nadu Congress chief KS Alagiri sparked controversy by suggesting that agricultural workers should slap Kangana over her previous remarks about farmers.
The party has previously filed complaints against her for her remarks on historical figures and Congress leaders.
Kangana has generally dismissed these criticisms, stating that her support comes from the public.
