Women and girls are India’s strength, its foundation and its future, Gandhi said, adding, “patriarchy suppresses you, scares you, threatens you, controls you.”
Published: August 23, 2026, 7:45 AM IST
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Congress leader Rahul Gandhi
New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi lashed out at “Manusmriti mindset” and urged girl students to “smash patriarchy”Interacting with the students at his ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’, Rahul also took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his remark that he was shocked to hear girls using abusive language during the recent protest at Jantar Mantar.
Gandhi said women belong to themselves and not to their fathers, husbands, or sons, and termed as shameful the Manusmriti’s prescription that a woman should remain under the authority of male relatives at every stage of her lifeIndia’s biggest strength is the “70 crore unique journeys, unique imagination, unique dreams” of its women, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said, adding that being somebody’s daughter, wife or mother could not be their only identity.
Gandhi played a video of Prime Minister Narendra Modi referring to abusive language used by girls during the agitation at Jantar Mantar over paper leaks and wondering how “daughters” could use such language, calling it a cultural shock.
Here are some of the key takeaways from Rahul Gandhi’s speech:
- The Congress leader said both boys and girls had used abusive language at Jantar Mantar, but the Prime Minister said he felt a cultural shock because girls used such a language.
- If boys abuse, there is no problem and it is allowed, but if a girl abuses, it is a cultural shock, Rahul Gandhi said.
- Gandhi referred to an old statement by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat that rape happens in “India” and not in “Bharat”
- He also referred former Haryana Chief Minister M L Khattar’s alleged comment that 80 per cent of rapes happen because of women.
- “What is the mindset? That a girl has a place, she should be locked in a cage, she should be controlled, she should not work, and boys should get full freedomThey can do whatever they want, if they want to abuse they can abuse, if they want to work they can work… We do not want such Hindustan,” the Congress leader said.
- Women and girls are India’s strength, its foundation and its future, Gandhi said, adding, “patriarchy suppresses you, scares you, threatens you, controls you.”
- “Together we have to finish this patriarchy — smash the patriarchy! And my message to you, simple message: Be loud, be proud, and fight for your space in society,” he said.
Gandhi invited Bhojpuri singer Neha Singh Rathore on stage during the programmeRathore said she questions the government on issues it does not like to be questioned, and in return faces a lot of abuseWhat kind of democracy it is if one can not ask questions to the Prime Minister, she added.
Rahul Gandhi on Manusmriti
Earlier, referring to the Manusmriti, Gandhi quoted a verse from the ancient text which says a woman must obey her father in her childhood, in youth she belongs to her husband, and when he is dead, she belongs to her sons“These words are a shameThese words should not have been spoken,” the Congress leader said.
