BJP national general secretary Smriti Irani on Sunday challenged Rahul Gandhi to back the swift implementation of 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures and organise a full rendition of Vande Mataram that includes invocation of Goddess Durga at his party office.
Irani's remarks came in response to Gandhi's outreach to women at his 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' programme in Pune on Saturday, where the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha urged women to "smash patriarchy", described them as the "strength of India" and spoke out against violence against women.
Irani said Gandhi should put his remarks in support of women into action by backing the "immediate implementation" of women's reservation.
"Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi stated at an event that he supports women. Since a key Congress leader has spoken in support of women and women's leadership, I humbly request him to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiative to swiftly implement the bill granting 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament," she said.
The former Amethi MP also urged the Congress to organise a full rendition of Vande Mataram, including the verses invoking Goddess Durga, at its headquarters.
"Since he has invoked religion, I have a request to that prominent leader of the Congress. The verses of Vande Mataram, some of which were halted at the Congress headquarters, contain a reference to Goddess Durga," Irani told reporters.
"We worship Goddess Durga as the embodiment of 'Shakti' (divine power). I urge that the full rendition of Vande Mataram, including the verses invoking Goddess Durga, be performed at the Congress headquarters," she said.
The BJP has criticised the Congress for singing only two stanzas of Vande Mataram at party programmes, calling the decision an "insult" to the national song.
Irani also referred to Hindu traditions of venerating women, saying, "Our religious ethos of Hindus not only upholds the tenet of 'Yatra naryastu pujyante ramante tatra devatah (where women are honoured, divinity resides)', but we also worship Goddesses like Bhagwati, Lakshmi and Saraswati."
At the youth outreach programme on Saturday, Rahul said violence was used in society to prevent women, whom he described as the country's biggest asset, from progressing. He claimed 80 per cent of women face harassment and urged them to stand for and believe in themselves.
Students interacting with Gandhi highlighted how sexual harassment, concerns over personal safety, lack of safe public transport and financial constraints continue to affect women's access to education and economic independence.
The Congress MP listed "three forms of violence against women -- physical violence, violence through denial of opportunities, economic violence".
And in a post on X, Gandhi said, "Women are the strength of India - its foundation, its present, and its future. You belong to no one but yourself. Be loud. Be proud. Fight for your space. Smash the patriarchy!"
Gandhi also criticised what he described as a "Manusmriti mindset", saying it forces women to remain under the authority of male relatives at different stages of their lives. He quoted a passage that he alleged denied women independence.
"The Manusmriti says that ' in childhood, a female belongs to her father. In youth, she belongs to her husband. When her lord is dead, she belongs to her sons. A woman must never be independent.' This is a direct quote from the Manusmriti, and these words are a shame, because these words should never ever have been spoken," he alleged.
(With inputs from PTI and ANI)
