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Actor Gul Panag has reacted strongly to YouTuber Dhruv Rathee after his controversial social media remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi triggered a political debate online. The exchange began after Rathee commented on criticism directed at PM Modi during his recent visit to Norway.

The controversy erupted after Dhruv Rathee allegedly wrote on social media that Prime Minister Narendra Modi “deserves to be humiliated wherever he goes.” The remark quickly drew reactions from supporters and critics online, with several users debating the limits of political criticism and public accountability.

Responding to Rathee’s statement, Gul Panag criticised the tone of the comment and said reducing the office of India’s Prime Minister to public humiliation abroad was inappropriate regardless of political differences.

In her response shared online, Gul Panag wrote that while disagreement with a political leader is normal in a democracy, insulting the Prime Minister on foreign soil ultimately weakens India’s image globally.

“It’s okay to dislike someone politically, but reducing the office of India’s Prime Minister to humiliation abroad doesn’t feel right,” Gul Panag reportedly wrote in her reaction.

Her remarks quickly went viral and triggered fresh political arguments across X, Instagram and Reddit.

Supporters of Gul Panag praised the actor for separating criticism of an individual leader from respect for constitutional office. Several users argued that international ridicule directed at the country’s Prime Minister reflects on India itself rather than only on a political party.

Others, however, defended Dhruv Rathee’s right to criticise the Prime Minister strongly, arguing that public office holders remain accountable to citizens and criticism should not be restricted because of international optics.

The online debate intensified because Gul Panag herself has often publicly expressed independent political opinions in the past. The actor had earlier contested elections on an Aam Aadmi Party ticket during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Chandigarh. Despite that political background, many users noted that her latest remarks appeared focused more on institutional respect than partisan politics.

The controversy reportedly began after journalist Helle Lyng from Norway became part of online discussion surrounding PM Modi’s international engagements. Dhruv Rathee’s comments emerged during wider conversations around how political leaders are questioned and criticised globally during foreign visits.

Soon after Gul Panag responded, hashtags linked to Dhruv Rathee, PM Modi and nationalism began trending online. Social media users circulated screenshots of both statements while television debates and political pages amplified the argument further.

Some users accused Rathee of crossing the line from criticism into disrespect, while others claimed Gul Panag’s reaction attempted to police political dissent.

The debate also reopened broader discussions around digital political commentary and influencer-driven political discourse in India. Over the last few years, YouTubers and independent content creators like Dhruv Rathee have emerged as highly influential political voices online, especially among younger audiences.

Rathee, who has millions of subscribers across YouTube and social media platforms, is known for his videos on politics, governance, misinformation and public policy. His content frequently criticises the Narendra Modi-led government and has often attracted backlash from BJP supporters.

At the same time, Rathee has also defended his work as independent political commentary aimed at encouraging accountability and democratic discussion.

Gul Panag, meanwhile, remains one of the few Bollywood actors who has consistently spoken on political and social issues over the years. Apart from acting in films and OTT projects, she has frequently commented on governance, women’s rights, civic issues and public policy discussions online.

The actor is known for projects such as Dor, Manorama Six Feet Under, The Family Man and Paatal Lok. She is also the daughter of retired Indian Army officer Lieutenant General Harcharanjit Singh Panag.

Her reaction to Dhruv Rathee stood out because many entertainment figures generally avoid direct political commentary on polarising subjects online.

As the debate continued, several users pointed out the increasingly aggressive tone of political discussions on Indian social media. The clash between Gul Panag and Dhruv Rathee quickly became part of a larger conversation around nationalism, dissent and how public figures communicate criticism in the digital era.

Neither Dhruv Rathee nor Gul Panag appeared to escalate the exchange further publicly after the initial reactions. However, clips, screenshots and commentary around the controversy continued circulating widely online through Thursday evening.