Archive · 25 Aug 2026
Rahul Gandhi’s Manusmriti Remarks Trigger BJP Patriarchy Debate
Rahul Gandhi spoke to girl students about women’s freedom.
He said women should belong to themselves, not be controlled by family members.
He criticized a passage in the Manusmriti that describes women as obeying fathers, husbands and sons.
He called this way of thinking a form of patriarchy.
BJP leaders said he was unfairly criticizing Hindu traditions.
They asked why he did not also discuss practices affecting women in other communities.
Himanta Biswa Sarma said Gandhi was using women’s rights as a cover to attack Hindu Dharma.
The Vishva Hindu Parishad said he had selected one passage without considering the whole text.
The disagreement is about whether Gandhi was supporting equality or targeting Hindu traditions.
Rahul Gandhi urged women in Maharashtra to reject patriarchal control and “smash patriarchy.”
He criticized a Manusmriti verse describing women as subordinate to fathers, husbands and sons.
BJP leaders accused Gandhi of selectively attacking Hindu traditions and presenting what they called wrong facts.
Yogi Adityanath, Himanta Biswa Sarma and Kiren Rijiju questioned whether Gandhi would address patriarchal practices in other communities.
The Vishva Hindu Parishad said Gandhi cited one verse without understanding the wider Manusmriti.
- Who
- Rahul Gandhi, BJP leaders including Yogi Adityanath, Himanta Biswa Sarma and Kiren Rijiju, and the Vishva Hindu Parishad.
- What
- A political dispute followed Gandhi’s criticism of a Manusmriti passage and his call to “smash patriarchy.”
- When
- Gandhi made the remarks on Saturday; BJP criticism included Adityanath’s comments on Monday and a rebuttal posted Tuesday.
- Where
- Gandhi spoke during an interaction with girl students in Maharashtra; Adityanath responded at an event in Rae Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh.
- Why
- Gandhi framed the remarks as a demand for women’s autonomy, while critics said he was selectively attacking Hindu traditions.
Women’s Autonomy Argument
Tradition and Selective Criticism Argument
Meaning of the Manusmriti remarks
Women’s Autonomy Argument
Rahul Gandhi said a passage placing women under the authority of fathers, husbands and sons was shameful and reflected a patriarchal mindset.
Tradition and Selective Criticism Argument
BJP leaders and the Vishva Hindu Parishad said the remarks unfairly targeted Hindu traditions and relied on a selective reading of the Manusmriti.
Equal treatment across communities
Women’s Autonomy Argument
Gandhi’s intervention was presented as a general call for women’s independence from patriarchal social structures.
Tradition and Selective Criticism Argument
Kiren Rijiju and Himanta Biswa Sarma questioned whether Gandhi would show the same concern about practices affecting women in minority communities, including triple talaq.
Political record on women’s rights
Women’s Autonomy Argument
Gandhi emphasized that women are a major national asset and should stand up for themselves.
Tradition and Selective Criticism Argument
Sarma cited the Congress’s role in the 1986 law following the Shah Bano judgment and its opposition to the law criminalizing instant triple talaq, challenging Gandhi to support a Uniform Civil Code.
- Central text
- The Manusmriti, an ancient text cited by Rahul Gandhi.
- Rahul Gandhi’s message
- Women should belong to themselves and oppose patriarchal social structures.
- Yogi Adityanath’s criticism
- Gandhi may accept or reject the Manusmriti but should not present what Adityanath called wrong facts about Indian traditions.
- Himanta Biswa Sarma’s criticism
- He accused Gandhi of using women’s empowerment as a smokescreen to target Hindu Dharma.
- Kiren Rijiju’s question
- He asked why Gandhi targeted Hindus and referred to minority women and triple talaq.
- Vishva Hindu Parishad position
- The group said Gandhi selected a single verse without understanding the wider text.