Archive · 24 Aug 2026
Rahul Gandhi’s Patriarchy Attack Sparks BJP Political Counteroffensive
Rahul Gandhi criticized what he called a “Manusmriti mindset.”
He said society should break the structures that keep women unequal.
He described this as a fight against patriarchy.
The BJP disagreed with his criticism.
It brought up the Shah Bano controversy as an example involving Congress.
The BJP also mentioned past remarks by Congress leaders about women.
It questioned why Congress criticizes Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
The television debate asked whether Rahul Gandhi’s position is a genuine challenge or a selective political argument.
Rahul Gandhi accused a “Manusmriti mindset” of reinforcing patriarchy.
He called for people to “break the cage, smash patriarchy.”
The BJP responded by citing the Shah Bano controversy.
The BJP also referred to past Congress leaders’ remarks about women.
The debate questioned whether Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of patriarchy is consistent, including his party’s comments about Giorgia Meloni.
- Who
- Rahul Gandhi, the Bharatiya Janata Party, Congress leaders, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni are central to the debate.
- What
- Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of a “Manusmriti mindset” and patriarchy prompted a BJP counterattack over Shah Bano, Congress leaders’ remarks about women, and criticism of Giorgia Meloni.
- When
- The discussion took place in the Newshour episode described in the article; no specific date is provided.
- Where
- The political debate was presented on Newshour by Times Now.
- Why
- The BJP challenged Rahul Gandhi’s patriarchy argument by pointing to controversies and remarks it associated with Congress.
Rahul Gandhi and Congress’s Critique
BJP’s Counterargument
Patriarchy and Manusmriti
Rahul Gandhi and Congress’s Critique
Rahul Gandhi presents the “Manusmriti mindset” as a problem and calls for breaking patriarchal structures.
BJP’s Counterargument
The BJP questions whether Rahul Gandhi’s criticism is consistent or selectively applied.
Congress’s record on women’s issues
Rahul Gandhi and Congress’s Critique
The debate presents Rahul Gandhi’s remarks as a political challenge focused on women’s rights and patriarchy.
BJP’s Counterargument
The BJP cites the Shah Bano controversy and past Congress leaders’ comments about women to challenge Congress’s position.
Criticism of Giorgia Meloni
Rahul Gandhi and Congress’s Critique
Congress’s criticism of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is part of the political dispute discussed in the program.
BJP’s Counterargument
The BJP questions why Congress criticizes Meloni while making its own claims about women’s rights.
- Main speaker
- Rahul Gandhi
- Central issue
- Patriarchy and the alleged “Manusmriti mindset”
- Rahul Gandhi’s call
- “Break the cage, smash patriarchy”
- BJP response
- Raised the Shah Bano controversy and past Congress leaders’ remarks about women
- Additional dispute
- The BJP questioned Congress criticism of Giorgia Meloni
- Program
- Newshour
- Anchor
- Navika Kumar