Kiren Rijiju and VHP Criticize Rahul Gandhi Over Manusmriti Remarks

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi sparked a political controversy during the Pune leg of the 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' campaign on Saturday. Addressing female students, Gandhi cited a verse from the Manusmriti stating that women must never be independent and remain under the authority of male relatives. He described these words as a shame and argued that patriarchal structures must be dismantled to ensure equality and protect women from social control.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju responded on Monday, accusing the Indian National Congress of selectively targeting Hindu traditions while ignoring the plight of minority women and issues like Triple Talaq. Rijiju argued that genuine support for women must be inclusive of every community and pointed to the achievements of women in the military and ISRO as evidence of thriving Nari Shakti.

The Vishva Hindu Parishad also condemned the remarks, with national spokesperson Vinod Bansal accusing Gandhi of using selective quotations to attack Hindu society. The organization challenged Gandhi to apply the same scrutiny to the Quran and the Bible, asserting that the Manusmriti should be understood within its historical context and that Indian civilization has traditionally honored women.