No problem when boys abuse, cultural shock if girls do it: Rahul Gandhi slams PM

At his Chhatron Ki Goonj programme, Rahul Gandhi framed PM Modi's comment as part of a wider patriarchal and 'Manusmriti' mindset while also hearing students' concerns on exams and tribal issues.At his Chhatron Ki Goonj programme, Rahul Gandhi challenged Narendra Modi's remarks on girls using abusive language during the Jantar Mantar protest. (Image: X/@INCIndia)Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday hit out at what he described as a “Manusmriti mindset” and urged girl students to “smash patriarchy”. He also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his remark that he felt a cultural shock after hearing girls use abusive language during a recent protest at Jantar Mantar.Interacting with girl students at his ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ outreach programme, Gandhi said both boys and girls had used abusive language during the agitation over paper leaks. He said PM Modi, however, specifically referred to girls using such language and described it as a cultural shock.“If boys abuse, there is no problem, and it is allowed, but if a girl abuses, it is a cultural shock,” Gandhi commented.Gandhi played a video of PM Modi referring to the abusive language used by girls during the agitation at Jantar Mantar and questioning how “daughters” could use such language. PM Modi, in a video posted on social media, said that “disgusting expletives” were targeted at him and his late mother at the protest. “It is a cultural shock to us that how can our daughters use this language,” he said, before adding: “I want to forgive them.”The Congress leader said this reflected a mindset in which boys receive greater freedom while girls face restrictions. “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. They 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,” Gandhi said.He added that both boys and girls should receive respect.GANDHI ATTACKS 'MANUSMRITI MINDSET'Gandhi also criticised what he described as the “Manusmriti mindset”. Referring to the Manusmriti, he quoted a verse from the ancient text that says a woman must obey her father during childhood, belongs to her husband in youth and, after his death, belongs to her sons.“These words are a shame. These words should not have been spoken,” Gandhi said.He said women belong to themselves and not to their fathers, husbands or sons.“You belong to nobody, except yourself. You have a relationship with your father, brother, husband, your son, but you do not belong to them, and you belong to yourself,” he said.Gandhi said being somebody’s daughter, wife or mother could not constitute a woman’s only identity. He said women are the country’s biggest asset and urged them to stand up for themselves and believe in themselves.“India’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.He said there was nothing wrong with being a daughter, wife or mother, but those relationships could not define a woman’s entire identity.'SMASH THE PATRIARCHY': GANDHI TO GIRL STUDENTSExplaining why he considered women a greater asset to the country, Gandhi said, “My logic is that women are by nature more sensitive, more gentle, more compassionate and more forward-looking than men.”He said women and girls are India’s strength, foundation and future. He added that 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,” Gandhi said.GANDHI CITES BHAGWAT, KHATTAR REMARKSGandhi also referred to an old statement by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat that rape happens in “India” and not in “Bharat”. He also cited former Haryana Chief Minister ML Khattar’s alleged comment that 80 per cent of rapes happen because of women.“So this is a mindset, and this fight is against this mindset,” Gandhi said.He said violence is used in society to prevent women from progressing and cited various statistics about crimes against women and discrimination they face. Gandhi described three forms of violence against women as “physical violence, violence through denial of opportunities, economic violence."He said 4.5 lakh female foeticides take place every year, 80 per cent of women encounter harassment, 29 per cent endure physical violence and 6 per cent face rape. He also claimed that 99 per cent of incidents of sexual violence go unreported because of social stigma. Gandhi further claimed that 84 per cent of women need their family’s permission to take up employment.- EndsWith PTI inputs.Published By: Akshat TrivediPublished On: Aug 23, 2026 08:44 IST