NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday described India’s 70 crore women as the country’s “biggest asset”, saying they are more forward-looking than men and have a crucial role in shaping the nation’s future. He also invoked the idea of women’s autonomy and said that a woman should have the exclusive ownership of her own life.Speaking at the fourth event of ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ at the AISSMS College Ground in Pune, Maharashtra, he invoked a verse from the Manusmriti and contrasted it with his call for the empowerment and autonomy of women.Rejecting the idea of women being liable to other men, he asserted that a woman’s exclusive ownership belongs to herself. While acknowledging that the relationships in a woman’s life are important, he stressed that they do not determine her identity or ownership.Speaking on the central theme of the evening, “break the cage”, Rahul Gandhi called on the audience to recognise the individuality that sets each person apart and to resist the pressures that seek to confine them to predetermined identities or expectations. He said the most important message he wanted people to take away from the evening was a simple but powerful one: “Every single one of you is unique in this universe.”Elaborating on the idea, Rahul Gandhi stressed that individuality is not merely about being different from others, but about recognising one’s own worth and identity. “You are unique. You are special. You are an individual,” he told the audience. He emphasised that every person has a distinct way of looking at the world, a different set of aspirations and the ability to imagine a life beyond the boundaries imposed on them.Rahul further connected this sense of individuality to the freedom to dream and choose one’s own path. “And you have your own dream, your own vision for your life,” he said. The emphasis, he suggested, was not simply on having dreams, but on having the freedom to define those dreams for oneself rather than allowing society, circumstances or established notions of what one ‘should’ be to determine them.Through the theme of “break the cage”, the LoP framed personal freedom as the ability to step outside these limitations and acknowledge that no individual should be reduced to a role, label or identity prescribed by others. His message was that recognising one’s uniqueness is the first step towards claiming the freedom to shape one’s own future, pursue one’s aspirations and live according to one’s own vision of life.
Rahul Gandhi attacks Manusmriti
Rahul Gandhi launched a sharp attack on the Manusmriti over its treatment of women, criticising the text’s prescription that women should remain under the authority of male relatives throughout their lives. He contrasted the idea with his call for women’s autonomy, arguing that a woman’s identity and freedom should not be defined by her relationship with her father, husband or sons.Quoting from the Manusmriti, Rahul Gandhi said, “I (would) like to quote here the Manusmriti, which says clearly that in childhood a female must be subject to her father, in youth she belongs to her husband and, when her lord is dead, she belongs to her sons. A woman must never be independent.”Calling the words unacceptable, Rahul Gandhi added, “These words are a shame. These words should not have been spoken.” He said the country should instead recognise women as individuals with their own aspirations and agency, describing India’s 70 crore women as its “biggest strength” because of their “70 crore unique journeys, unique imagination, unique dreams”.His remarks framed the debate around women’s independence as a broader question of individual freedom, with Rahul arguing that women should have the right to define their own identities and determine the course of their lives rather than be treated as belonging to male relatives.
Event follows political storm, clashes
The event follows a political storm and clashes between student organisations. The programme was preceded by a midnight clash between the NSUI and ABVP at the COEP Technological University hostel.It happened after ABVP claimed that female students were being forced to attend the event. Meanwhile, Congress leaders countered the claims, saying two female students, who had earlier expressed their support for the event, were threatened and confined inside the hostel.BJP has also accused Congress of paying influencers and manufacturing crowds for the event. Meanwhile, Congress has alleged that the ruling establishment was attempting to disrupt Rahul Gandhi’s student outreach.
NSUI-ABVP clash erupts at COEP hostel
Tensions escalated on Friday night when NSUI and ABVP members clashed at the COEP hostel campus ahead of the LoP’s interaction. Police resorted to a lathi charge to control the situation, while several injured activists were taken to Sancheti Hospital.According to police sources cited in the material, the Shivajinagar Police registered cases against 50 to 60 people, including six named NSUI and Youth Congress activists, following a complaint by an ABVP member.The confrontation reportedly centred on student participation in LoP Rahul Gandhi’s programme. NSUI activists said they were responding to distress calls from female students, while ABVP alleged that Congress-linked workers were forcibly encouraging hostellers to register for the event.
Congress alleges female students were intimidated
Congress leaders accused ABVP workers of entering the girls’ hostel and intimidating students who had expressed support for the event.Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe alleged that a female student was cornered and forced to apologise on camera. NSUI state president Sagar Salunke claimed that students had called the organisation for help and alleged that CCTV cameras had been switched off before NSUI members arrived.Salunke also alleged that students, including orphaned students, had been pressured to record videos praising the college administration. The case registered by police followed a complaint from 21-year-old student Malhar Nilesh Patil, who alleged that a student’s video statement had been recorded under pressure at the hostel.
Pawan Khera alleges conspiracy to disrupt event
Congress leader Pawan Khera alleged that there had been a conspiracy to disrupt LoP’s Pune programme, claiming that the response among young people had rattled those in power.Khera linked the controversy to the issues female students were expected to raise with Rahul, including alleged diversion of scholarship funds. He accused ABVP workers of intimidating students and said the incident reflected an attempt to keep women away from public decision-making.He also invoked Pune’s history as the city where Savitribai Phule pioneered women’s education, arguing that the theme of the event was particularly relevant to the city.
BJP calls event ‘Paise Ki Goonj’
The BJP launched a separate attack on the programme, accusing the Congress of paying influencers to mobilise attendance and promote Rahul Gandhi’s event on social media.BJP Maharashtra spokesperson Navnath Ban alleged that influencers were being offered Rs 30,000 to Rs 35,000 each, along with travel expenses, and claimed that the overall expenditure could reach Rs 9 crore to Rs 10 crore if around 3,000 people were paid.Ban dubbed the programme ‘Paise Ki Goonj’ instead of ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ and demanded an investigation into the source of the alleged funds. BJP leader Keshav Upadhyay separately accused Rahul Gandhi of using student issues as a political platform.
Congress hits back, says BJP ‘rattled’ by youth response
The Congress rejected the BJP’s allegations and accused it of trying to create obstacles to LoP Rahul Gandhi’s programme because of his growing support among young people.Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant claimed that the BJP was particularly apprehensive about Rahul’s appeal among Gen Z and alleged that authorities and ABVP members had attempted to disrupt the programme.
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NCP (SP) leader Mahesh Tapase also criticised the BJP, saying there was no reason to oppose a programme focused on issues affecting students and young people.
What is ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ about?
Rahul’s Pune interaction with female students is centred on student and youth concerns, with issues such as paper leaks, unemployment and the education system expected to feature in the programme.The Congress has sought to position the initiative as a platform for students to directly raise their concerns, while the BJP has characterised it as a political campaign by the Leader of the Opposition. The Pune event, therefore, has begun against the backdrop of an escalating political battle over who controls the narrative around student and youth concerns.
