Rahul Gandhi calls for ‘end to patriarchy’ at Pune event after PM Modi’s ‘cultural shock’ remark

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Saturday highlighted several issues concerning women’s safety, rights and social control, and lashed out at “Manusmriti mindset”, while addressing the Pune leg of the “Chhatron Ki Goonj” campaign that he said was dedicated to “daughters of the nation”.

Interacting with students at his outreach programme in Pune, Gandhi said women belonged to themselves and not to their fathers, husbands or sons, and slammed the Manusmriti’s prescription that a woman should remain under the authority of male relatives at every stage of her life.

He also targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and played a video of 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.

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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,” the Congress leader commented.

He also referred to an old statement by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat that rape happens in “India” and not in “Bharat”, and former Haryana chief minister M L Khattar’s alleged comment that 80% of rapes happen because of women.

“So this is a mindset, and this fight is against this mindset,” Gandhi said.

“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 freedom... if they want to abuse they can abuse, if they want to work they can work... We do not want such Hindustan,” he added.

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.”

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 shame. These words should not have been spoken,” the Congress leader said.

Women are the country’s biggest asset, he said, adding that they should stand for themselves and believe in themselves.

The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha further listed “three forms of violence against women -- physical violence, violence through denial of opportunities, economic violence”.

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