In Pune, Rahul Gandhi debunks patriarchy, says our fight is against ‘Manusmriti’ mindset

Gandhi also spoke about the various types of violence faced by women in the country. He quoted a verse from the Manusmriti, which says “a woman must obey her father in her childhood, in youth she belongs to her husband, and later she belongs to her sons”.

Written by: Soham Shah, Manoj Dattatrye More

5 min readPuneUpdated: Aug 23, 2026 04:00 PM IST

Rahul Gandhi in Pune, Rahul Gandhi, Narendra Modi, Narendra Modi girls using abusive language, CJP Jantar Mantar protest, Jantar Mantar protest, Delhi protest, Sansad Chalo march, jantar mantar protest, Cockroach Janta Party, CJP protest Delhi, NEET paper leak, unemployment in India, Delhi street protests, Bhagat Singh jail diary, Jantar Mantar protest, Jodhpur IT professionals protest, Shahdara Delhi, youth protests India, media misinformation, Indian Express reporting, civil rights dissent India, Indian express news, current affairs

Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in Pune on Saturday. (Photo Credit: Pavan Khengre)

Launching a scathing attack on the ruling party at his Chhatron ki Goonj initiative at Pune’s SSPMS Grounds, his fourth such programme in the country, Congress MP and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said even though boys had also indulged in abuse at the recent Jantar Mantar students protest, Prime Minister Narendra Modi singled out girls for it. He added that BJP and RSS hold a mindset that wants women to be confined within cages.

During the largely non-political interaction, Gandhi said, “At Jantar Mantar, boys and girls both used abuses. But the Prime Minister said that he got a cultural shock that girls used abuses. There is no problem if boys abuse? Is it allowed for them?”

He was referring to a video released shortly after the Jantar Mantar protests spearheaded by Cockroach Janta Party in New Delhi where Prime Minister Modi said it was a cultural shock for India that women were using abusive words against him and that he “forgave” the insults.

In his speech, Gandhi spoke about the various types of violence faced by women in the country. He began by quoting the Manusmriti “which says a female must be subject to her father in her youth, husband when she is young, and later her son”.

Young women participated enthusiastically in Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Chhatron Ki Guunj’ program. (Express Photo By Pavan Khengre)

“There is nothing wrong in being a daughter, wife or a mother. But this cannot be your only identity,” he said.

“For thousands of years, women have been denied their rights and entitlements in the country. The Manusmriti rules that women should not be independent, but women must be given freedom, as there is immense strength in it. Women must stand on their own feet and build their own identity. A girl may have relationships as a father, brother, husband, or son, but she is not their property — she belongs to herself,” he said.

The BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the Congress MP said, have a mindset that women and girls should remain confined in cages. “But we do not want such a India. We want a system where everyone is treated with respect. The mindset of suppressing women comes from the Manusmriti, and today our fight is against this very mindset,” Gandhi said.

Story continues below this ad

Also Read | ‘Do not involve me in political drama’: Pune student amid ABVP, NSUI clash

‘Smash patriarchy’

During the interactive session, several women, mostly college students, went up on stage and spoke to Gandhi about issues they faced daily. Through multiple slides presented on a big screen, Gandhi spoke about the cost of violence faced by women, the disrespect they were subjected to, and how time was weaponised against them.

Gandhi said there were 4.5 lakh cases of female foeticide in India every year, 80 per cent of women faced harassment daily, 29 per cent experienced physical violence, and 6 per cent were raped.

The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi’s program ‘Chhatron Ki Guunj’ took place today at the AISSMS College Ground. Through this event, Rahul Gandhi interacted with ‘Gen Z’ and commented on various issues. (Express Photo By Pavan Khengre)

“Then there is violence of denied opportunities. In the name of safety, 50 per cent women are denied education or employment opportunities. Then there is economic violence. In the name of safe travel, an additional expenditure of Rs 17,500 is incurred annually. Women are subjected to various forms of control in the country,” he said.

Talking about how time is weaponised, Gandhi said women do 5.5 hours of household work, compared to 30 minutes done by men. Women face curfews to return back home, and have an age limit set for marriage, restricting their opportunities.

Story continues below this ad

“Together, we need to finish this patriarchy. Smash the patriarchy,” said Gandhi, using the popular Gen Z term.

Young women participated enthusiastically in Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Chhatron Ki Guunj’ program. (Express Photo By Pavan Khengre)

In a statement, the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) said that BJP made multiple attempts to disrupt the event to prevent it from succeeding. “Despite threats made to young women to deter them from participating, violent incidents occurring, and efforts to defame the program, Chhatron Ki Goonj received an overwhelming response. Because the BJP is intimidated by Rahul Gandhi, they created obstacles in his program, but defying the BJP, the event was a massive success.”

Soham Shah

Soham Shah is a Correspondent with The Indian Express, based in Pune. A journalism graduate with a background in fact-checking, he brings a meticulous and research-oriented approach to his current reporting. Professional Background Role: Correspondent coverig education and city affairs in Pune. Specialization: His primary beat is education, but he also maintains a strong focus on civic issues, public health, human rights, and state politics. Key Strength: Soham focuses on data-driven reporting on school and college education, government reports, and public infrastructure. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His late 2025 work highlights a transition from education-centric reporting to hard-hitting investigative and human-rights stories: 1. Investigations & Governance "Express Impact: Mother's name now a must to download birth certificate from PMC site" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant policy change by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) following his earlier reports on gender inclusivity in administrative documents. "44-Acre Mahar Land Controversy: In June, Pune official sought land eviction at Pawar son firm behest" (Nov 9, 2025): An investigative piece on real estate irregularities involving high-profile political families. 2. Education & Campus Life Faculty crisis at SPPU hits research, admin work: 62% of govt-sanctioned posts vacant, over 75% in many depts (Sept 12, 2025): An investigative piece on professor vacancies at Savitribai Phule Pune University. "Maharashtra’s controversial third language policy: Why National Curriculum Framework recommends a third language from Class 6" (July 2): This detailed piece unpacks reasons behind why the state's move to introduce a third language from class 1 was controversial. "Decline in number of schools, teachers in Maharashtra but student enrolment up: Report" (Jan 2025): Analyzing discrepancies in the state's education data despite rising student numbers. 3. Human Rights & Social Issues "Aanchal Mamidawar was brave after her family killed her boyfriend" (Dec 17, 2025): A deeply personal and hard-hitting opinion piece/column on the "crime of love" and honor killings in modern India. "'People disrespect the disabled': Meet the man who has become face of racist attacks on Indians" (Nov 29, 2025): A profile of a Pune resident with severe physical deformities who became the target of global online harassment, highlighting issues of disability and cyber-bullying. Signature Style Soham is known for his civil-liberties lens. His reporting frequently champions the rights of the marginalized—whether it's students fighting for campus democracy, victims of regressive social practices, or residents struggling with crumbling urban infrastructure (as seen in his "Breathless Pune" contributions). He is adept at linking hyper-local Pune issues to larger national conversations about law and liberty. X (Twitter): @SohamShah07 ... Read More

Manoj Dattatrye More

Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis. Professional Legacy Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles. Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change. Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities. Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees. Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area: 1. Political Shifts & Alliances "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala. "BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls. "Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections. "NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections. 2. Civic & Administrative Accountability "PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions. "93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads. 3. Social & Labor Issues "As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra. "Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse. Signature Beat Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport. X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 ... Read More

Click here to join Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated list of our stories

Loading Recommendations...

Sep 04: Latest News

Live Blog