New Delhi, 26 August (H.S.): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Bansuri Swaraj launched a sharp attack on the Congress over Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s call to “break patriarchy”, alleging that he adopts a double standard on issues concerning women’s dignity and that his remarks amount to little more than political posturing.

Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, Swaraj said Rahul Gandhi had raised the slogan “break patriarchy” at an event in Pune on August 22, but had never questioned what she described as “political patriarchy” within his own party. She alleged that Gandhi had neither a clear vision nor a constructive agenda and therefore resorted to statements designed to create a sensation on social media.

Accusing the Congress of harbouring an anti-women mindset, the BJP MP referred to an alleged objectionable social media post concerning actor-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut when she was given the BJP ticket from Mandi. Swaraj said the post had been made from the social media account of Congress leader Supriya Shrinate, but Rahul Gandhi had not objected to it. She also cited remarks allegedly made by Randeep Surjewala about Hema Malini and Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury’s controversial reference to President Droupadi Murmu as “Rashtrapatni”, alleging that the Congress leadership had remained silent in both instances.

Swaraj questioned why, if Rahul Gandhi genuinely wanted to dismantle patriarchy, there was not a single woman minister in the cabinets of Congress-ruled Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh. She alleged that women’s empowerment was merely a political slogan for the Congress and claimed that this mindset was also reflected in the party’s opposition to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam.

Referring to the Shah Bano case and the legislation criminalising triple talaq, Swaraj alleged that the Congress had consistently prioritised what she described as appeasement politics over women’s rights. She asked Rahul Gandhi to clarify the Congress’s position on these issues if he genuinely considered himself an advocate of women’s rights.

Swaraj also criticised the Congress over its position on “Vande Mataram”. She said that if Rahul Gandhi genuinely intended to challenge patriarchy in all its forms, he should sing the complete national song. She alleged that the Congress had compromised the dignity of “Vande Mataram” in pursuit of what she described as appeasement politics.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar