Rahul Gandhi urges women to smash patriarchy, VHP condemns Manusmriti remarks

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi urged girl students to "smash the patriarchy" during an outreach program in Pune on Saturday, August 22, 2026, while criticizing what he described as a "Manusmriti mindset" and targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi over a recent remark about girls using abusive language. The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) responded sharply, accusing Gandhi of distorting Hindu scripture for political gain.

Speaking at the "Chhatron Ki Goonj" event at SSPMS Ground, Gandhi quoted a verse from the ancient text Manusmriti, which states that a woman must obey her father in childhood, belongs to her husband in youth, and after his death, belongs to her sons. He called this prescription "shameful" and declared that women belong to themselves, not to their male relatives. "You belong to nobody, except yourself," he told the students.

Gandhi's criticism extended to the Prime Minister, referencing a video Modi released after a student protest at Jantar Mantar over paper leaks. In the video, Modi expressed "cultural shock" at hearing girls use abusive language. Gandhi questioned the double standard, stating, "If boys abuse, there is no problem, and it is allowed, but if a girl...