Former Union minister Smriti Irani has addressed the controversy triggered by actor-politician Kangana Ranaut's "generation gutter" remark, but stopped short of either defending or criticising the BJP MP's comments.

In an exclusive interview with India Today TV, Irani told journalist Marya Shakil that Ranaut had already clarified her position on multiple occasions and that she did not wish to comment further on the matter.

"My colleague has explained her stand several times. I would not like to make any observations about someone from my own political party who has already spoken on the issue," Irani said.

Rather than discussing the controversy directly, the BJP leader shifted the focus to the Narendra Modi government's policies aimed at improving the status of women in India. She credited Prime Minister Modi with bringing gender issues into mainstream political discourse and strengthening women's participation in public life.

Irani highlighted the Women's Reservation Bill, passed by Parliament in 2023, as a landmark reform that expanded political opportunities for women across the country.

She argued that the Prime Minister's leadership had ensured that women were no longer confined to the margins of policymaking and urged people to recognise the government's broader efforts instead of judging it solely on the basis of individual remarks.

The former minister also pointed to welfare initiatives undertaken by the NDA government, including the opening of millions of bank accounts for women and the construction of toilets designed specifically for their use.

Irani's remarks come at a time when Kangana Ranaut has been facing criticism from opposition leaders, activists and members of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) over comments she made about the protests at Delhi's Jantar Mantar.

Several CJP leaders, including Abhijeet Dipke and Saurav Das, have publicly objected to Ranaut's statements. Actor Sonu Sood, who has previously worked with Ranaut, also criticised her remarks.

The controversy has continued to spark political and social debate, with critics accusing the BJP MP of making insensitive and derogatory observations about protesters and women.