the actor Gul Panag has reacted strongly after YouTuber Dhruv Rathee addressed his controversial comments Prime Minister Narendra Modi the latter sparked a debate online during his recent visit to Norway. The exchange has sparked heated debates on social media, and opinions are widely divided on criticism, responsibility and respect for public office.Known for films like ‘Dhoop’, ‘Manorama Six Feet Under’ and ‘Ab Tak Chhappan 2’, Gul took to X, ex-Twitter, to express his disagreement with Rathee’s statements.
Dhruv Rathee’s comments spark controversy
Controversy erupted after Dhruv Rathee criticized Prime Minister Modi during a press conference in Norway along with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. During the interaction, Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng tried to ask a question, but the Indian Prime Minister decided not to answer and walked away.Reacting to the moment online, Rathee shared some strong posts against the Prime Minister. In a tweet, Modi said he “deserves to be humiliated everywhere he goes” and criticized him for avoiding press conferences during his tenure.YouTube also encouraged foreign journalists to publicly question the prime minister. “So ashamed that he is forced to show some responsibility to the people,” Rathee wrote, adding that such actions would be “a great service to the progress of India.”
Gul Panag’s review of Dhruv Rathee’s comments
Rathee’s comments did not go down well with Gul Panag, who publicly called out YouTube for crossing the line between criticism and disrespect. He also explained that disagreement with a government or political leader is perfectly valid in a democracy, but mocking the position of the Prime Minister on foreign soil was inappropriate in his opinion.“Disliking a prime minister, disagreeing with a government, protesting, arguing and voting in a different way,” he said, “reducing the position of the prime minister of India, the man, the position and what he represents abroad, going to a joke on foreign soil does not seem appropriate or dissent.”Also, the actor emphasized that the comments addressed to the prime minister can reflect on the institution and, by extension, on the country. “It diminishes him, the organization and ultimately us,” Gul wrote in his closing remarks. His response quickly gained traction online, with some users expressing support for his stance on maintaining respect for constitutional positions, while others defended Rathee’s criticism as part of democratic freedom of expression.
Journalist Helle Lyng also faced online backlash
Amid the controversy, Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng also became the target of online criticism from sections of Indian social media. Several users accused him of trying to embarrass the country at an international event. The incident has since become a larger debate about political criticism, press accountability and the limits of public dissent in a democracy.
