Be loud, be proud and fight for your space in society was Rahul Gandhi’s “simple message” to women, exhorting them to “smash the patriarchy” while criticising the “Manusmriti mindset”, inviting sharp reactions from the BJP.
The Congress leader placed women, whom he called India’s biggest strength, at the core of his message at an event in Pune, telling them they belong to no one except themselves.
The Congress leader then quoted from Manusmriti, a Hindu text containing laws that formed the basis of societal organisation and the judicial system of ancient India, critiquing it for confining women to restrictive roles.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis called out Rahul Gandhi’s “hypocrisy” for preaching women’s empowerment while opposing the Women’s Reservation Bill. The Chief Minister labelled the Congress as a directionless party of “showoffs and loudmouths”. Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram blamed Fadnavis’ statement on “cognitive fatigue” and reminded him that the Congress supported the bill in both houses of Parliament.
Today, I would like to make a request to the former national president. But when it comes to passing the Women’s a Reservation Bill, he and his party staunchly opposed it”. The Congress wholeheartedly supported the Bill in both Houses of Parliament,” Chidambaram posted on X. The Opposition defeated the Constitution amendment Bill. “Former national president of the Congress party stated at an event that he supports women. Prime Minister Modi has appealed to all political parties to cooperate with him in the swift implementation of this women’s reservation law.
I am sure the statement was due to cognitive fatigue. Because the Constitution (106th Amendment) Bill providing for 33% reservation of seats in the Lok Sabha and the State legislative assemblies was passed in Parliament in 2023. The Modi government has, in April, brought a Bill for the Delimitation of Lok Sabha seats in tandem with amendments to the Women’s Reservation Act, which would increase seats in the Lower House to 850 based on the 2011 Census, with 33% reservation for women. The Congress spotlighted that it was in favour of freezing the Lok Sabha seats at 543 and 33% reservation for women to be implemented for the 2029 general election. Prime Minister Modi has passed a law providing 33% reservation for women across the country, enabling them to enhance the dignity of the nation’s Parliament. I humbly ask him to support the Prime Minister’s initiative, specifically the swift implementation of the law providing 33% reservation for women and enabling them to take on leadership roles in Parliament,” Irani said.
“CM Maharastra, Mr Devendra Fadnavis is reported to have said: “Rahul Gandhi makes big statements about women empowerment on stage.
