New Delhi: Putting women’s rights and empowerment at the centre of his fourth ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ address in Pune Saturday, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi called out what he described as the “Manusmriti mindset”, which, he said, keeps women under the control of men. He also took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his remarks on last month’s Cockroach Janta Party-led protest.
Referring to the PM’s video post on social media after the protests, where he “forgave” the ones who abused him, Gandhi said, “My question to you is that at Jantar Mantar, boys also abused and girls also abused. But the prime minister is saying that he felt a ‘cultural shock’ because the girls were also abusing. If boys abuse, there is no problem. For them, it is allowed. But if a girl abuses, it is a cultural shock. It doesn’t look good.”
Gandhi also cited remarks by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and BJP leader Manohar Lal Khattar. “Mohan Bhagwat ji says that rape happens in India but does not happen in ‘Bharat’, Khattar ji says that 80 percent of rapes happen because of women.”
He went on to question why women were not treated as equals in society, saying that they had been reduced to three identities—“daughter, wife and mother”. He stressed on the need for women to be able to have independence and ambition without being controlled by men.
Referring to the Manusmriti, Gandhi said, “In childhood, a female must be subject to her father. In youth, she belongs to her husband. When her lord is dead, she belongs to her sons. A woman must never be independent.” He said that it is a “shame”, and that women should belong to no one but themselves.
He further called women India’s “biggest asset”, urging them to break the ceiling.
“People ask me, ‘What is India’s biggest strength?’ You get many answers. Somebody will say our economy, somebody will say our military, somebody will say our medical system, somebody might even say our people. But I am very clear on what is India’s biggest strength, our biggest asset, and that strength is 70 crore unique journeys, unique imaginations, unique dreams that the women of India are living,” he remarked.
“Women are by nature more sensitive, gentle, compassionate and forward-looking than men. That is why I believe India’s young and older women are its biggest asset.”
Gandhi then spoke about the different ways in which women are controlled by society, including violence, and restrictions on their opportunities and time. He said 4.5 lakh girls are killed every year before they are born, while 80 percent of women face harassment and 29 percent face physical violence. He added that six percent of women are raped and claimed that 99 percent of sexual violence cases go unreported because of social stigma.
He also said that safety concerns have a cascading effect on women’s education and employment. “Fifty percent of women are denied opportunities for education or employment in the name of safety… 84 percent of women need their family’s permission to take up employment. Women earn 25 percent less than men, and do not get promotions easily and only eight percent own land.”
Gandhi also spoke about how many girls are not allowed to step out of their homes on their own. “Sixty percent of our girls cannot go out of the house alone. If they have to go outside the house, they have to go with somebody.”
He also highlighted the unequal burden of household work, saying that women aged between 15 and 29 spend an average of 5.5 hours a day on household work, compared to around 30 minutes spent by men.
During the programme, several women students and competitive exam aspirants also shared their personal experiences with Gandhi, highlighting the pressures they face at home, in education and at work.
Tejwini, a fashion technology student from a small village, spoke about being pressured by her family to get married, instead of continuing her education. “I decided that no, I will work and study,” she said.
Gyaneshwari, who has completed her master’s degree from Jamia Millia Islamia, spoke about the pressure she faced over her education, career and her share in family property. “It’s not my right? It’s like, I am asking for the property.”
A tribal woman also raised concerns over the hunger strike by tribal students in Pune and the condition of tribal ashram schools, to which Rahul responded that he would join her in her agitation. “Call me there, I will come and sit with you,” he told her.
Concluding the programme, Gandhi called on women to challenge patriarchy and fight for their place in society.
“Patriarchy suppresses you, scares you, threatens you, controls you. Together, we have to finish this patriarchy. Be loud, be proud, and fight for your space in society,” he remarked.
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