Archive · 26 Aug 2026
BJP accuses Rahul Gandhi of double standards on women
BJP leader Bansuri Swaraj criticized Rahul Gandhi after he spoke about ending patriarchy at an event in Pune.
Patriarchy means a system where men have more power than women.
Swaraj said Gandhi was not consistent because he had stayed silent when Congress leaders were accused of making insulting comments about women.
She also said a Congress event included inappropriate comments about Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Swaraj argued that the Pune program was meant to distract people from that controversy.
She questioned why some Congress-led state cabinets do not include women ministers.
She also criticized Gandhi’s comments about Manusmriti and Congress’s positions on laws affecting women.
These claims were made by the BJP and were not accompanied by a response from Gandhi or Congress in the article.
BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj accused Rahul Gandhi of hypocrisy over his “smash the patriarchy” remarks at a Pune event.
Swaraj claimed the Pune event was intended to divert attention from alleged derogatory comments about Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at an August 13 Congress event.
She cited alleged remarks involving Kangana Ranaut, Hema Malini, Droupadi Murmu and other women as examples of Congress leaders’ misconduct.
Swaraj questioned Gandhi’s silence on those incidents and asked why Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh have no women ministers in their Congress-led cabinets.
She also criticized Gandhi’s remarks about Manusmriti and accused Congress of opposing legislation including the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam and Triple Talaq law.
- Who
- BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj criticized Congress Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party.
- What
- Swaraj accused Gandhi and Congress of double standards on women’s rights and alleged that a Pune event covered up inappropriate remarks about Giorgia Meloni.
- When
- The criticism was reported on Wednesday; Swaraj referred to Gandhi’s August 22 Pune remarks and an August 13 Congress event.
- Where
- The remarks were made at a press conference in New Delhi, concerning an event in Pune.
- Why
- Swaraj said Gandhi’s “smash the patriarchy” message was hypocritical and intended to distract from alleged misconduct by Congress leaders.
- Main critic
- Bansuri Swaraj, BJP member of Parliament
- Person criticized
- Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition
- Pune event
- Chhatron Ki Goonj, where Gandhi reportedly made “smash the patriarchy” and Manusmriti remarks
- Earlier controversy
- Swaraj referred to alleged inappropriate comments about Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at an August 13 Congress event
- Examples cited
- Alleged remarks involving Kangana Ranaut, Hema Malini, Droupadi Murmu and other women
- Cabinet criticism
- Swaraj questioned the absence of women ministers in the Congress-governed cabinets of Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh
- Legislation mentioned
- The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam and the Triple Talaq legislation