- Rahul Gandhi emphasized the importance of women's freedom and expression in India’s progress
- Kiren Rijiju welcomed Gandhi's remarks, seeing a positive change in Congress's stance on women
- Rijiju urged Congress to support the Women's Reservation Bill unconditionally
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju engaged in a verbal duel on social media on Saturday morning. While Rijiju took a swipe at Gandhi's video message on women power asking the Congress to support the Women's Reservation Bill, Rahul Gandhi hit back asking why hasn't the government implemented the law that was passed in 2023.
In a video of Friday, Rahul Gandhi had said that it is important to bring women "back into the conversation and allow them to do what they want to do".
Responding to Gandhi's video, Rijiju called it a "positive message" and wondered it there has been a "change of heart".
"This seems to be a positive message from the Congress Party. There's a visible change of heart in Shri Rahul Gandhi Ji about the Women," Rijiju posted on X.
He then slipped in Women Reservation question for the Leader of Opposition in his post.
"Now, I hope Congress Party will support the Women's Reservation Bill unconditionally," Rijiju added.
The Congress leader asserted that it is not just about women doing well in business or in the political system, but about them being able to express themselves in their homes and walk the streets comfortably.
"That is them putting a point of view that many others don't agree with, that is them questioning their parents, their husbands, their brothers, sisters, whatever. So a certain amount of freedom from this patriarchy, from the rigid control that India's men impose on their women, is required if India has to really develop," the Congress MP said.
Gandhi, on Thursday, was asked about his message to the young women fighting for their right to study, to which he had responded: "India's women are our strength, our biggest asset." The Congress leader expressed his dissatisfaction with the way women are treated in the country, in its education system, and in its corporate system.
