BJP hits back at Rahul Gandhi over women’s rights remarks; Smriti Irani sets two challenges

BJP general secretary Smriti Irani has hit back at Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on women’s rights and patriarchy, challenging the Congress leader to turn his words into action by supporting 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures and backing the full rendition of Vande Mataram at the Congress headquarters.

Irani’s remarks came a day after Gandhi, while interacting with girl students at his ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ outreach programme in Pune, urged them to “smash patriarchy” and criticised what he described as a “Manusmriti mindset” that keeps women under the authority of male relatives at different stages of their lives.

Gandhi also alleged that violence is used to prevent women from progressing in society and claimed that 80 per cent of women face harassment.

Responding to Gandhi’s comments, Irani said the Congress leader should demonstrate his support for women through concrete action.

“Former national president of the Congress party stated at an event that he supports women. Today, I would like to make a request to the former national president. 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,” she said.

Irani pointed to the legislation providing 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures, saying the Bill has already been passed and arguing that its implementation would enhance the dignity of Parliament through greater representation of women.

She urged Gandhi to support its “immediate implementation”.

Irani brings Vande Mataram into the debate

Irani also linked Gandhi’s comments on women and religion to the ongoing political row over the Congress’ decision to sing only two stanzas of Vande Mataram at party programmes.

“The verses of Vande Mataram, some of which were halted at the Congress headquarters, contain a reference to Goddess Durga,” Irani told reporters.

The BJP has criticised the Congress decision to sing only two stanzas of the national song at its programmes, calling it an “insult” to Vande Mataram.

Irani argued that the invocation of Goddess Durga in the full version of the song also connects with the broader idea of women and feminine power in Hindu religious traditions.

“Our religious ethos of Hindus not only upholds the tenet of 'Yatra naryastu pujyante ramante tatra devatah (where women are honoured, divinity resides)', but we also worship Goddesses like Bhagwati, Lakshmi and Saraswati,” she said.

“We worship Goddess Durga as the embodiment of 'Shakti' (divine power). I urge that the full rendition of Vande Mataram, including the verses invoking Goddess Durga, be performed at the Congress headquarters,” Irani added.

Irani’s response turned Gandhi’s comments on women’s empowerment into a political challenge for the Congress leader, asking him to demonstrate his position through support for women’s reservation as well as the full rendition of Vande Mataram.

With PTI inputs