New Delhi: Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has been touring the country and interacting with students. On Saturday, he participated in the ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ (Students’ Echo) event in Pune, Maharashtra, where he shared his views. During the event, he made a significant claim regarding the Manusmriti, asserting that it contains verses that demean women.
Rahul Gandhi stated that the Manusmriti prescribes that women remain subordinate to male relatives at every stage of their lives. This statement has sparked a political controversy, drawing a sharp reaction from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). BJP leader Amit Malviya accused the Congress of attempting to construct an anti-Hindu narrative. BJP leader Nishikant Dubey also targeted the Congress over the issue.
Congress intent on creating an anti-Hindu narrative – Amit Malviya
BJP leader Amit Malviya stated in a post on the social media platform X that an official Congress post exemplifies how the party selectively presents Hindu scriptures to suit its agenda of creating an anti-Hindu narrative. He further wrote that before lecturing Hindus on what their religion says about women, Rahul Gandhi ought to read the Manusmriti in its entirety.
Taking a dig at Gandhi, he remarked that if he wishes to engage in a debate, he must read the scriptures with honesty rather than viewing them through a political lens. He asserted that one cannot claim to understand the Indian civilisation or the Constitution merely through a Western (English) perspective. Hinduism does not require a certificate from Rahul Gandhi; this is nothing but propaganda.
Nishikant Dubey also aims.
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey wrote on X, “Your sister, Priyanka Gandhi-ji, is wiser than you; you should hand over your position to her. Principles and sermons are meant to be applied to others, not just one’s own household. During his lifetime, Nehru-ji chose Indira Gandhi-ji as the Congress President rather than his sister, Vijayalakshmi Pandit.
He added, “In 1946, Nehru-ji became the Congress President by opposing Sarojini Naidu-ji, that is, by opposing a woman. When a conflict arose between Feroze Gandhi and Indira Gandhi regarding contesting the parliamentary elections in 1957, your family sided with Feroze Gandhi.
What did Rahul Gandhi say about the Manusmriti?
For context, Rahul Gandhi stated in Pune on Saturday, “I would like to mention the Manusmriti here. It explicitly states that in childhood, a woman should remain under the authority of her father; in her youth, she is under the authority of her husband; and upon her husband’s death, she comes under the authority of her sons. A woman should never be independent.”
