New Delhi, August 24, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Monday hit back at Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over his recent call to “smash patriarchy”, accusing the Congress of selectively targeting Hindu society while overlooking issues faced by women from minority communities.
Reacting to Gandhi’s remarks in a post on X, Rijiju questioned why the Congress, in his view, focused its criticism on Hindus.
“Congress says, ‘Smash patriarchy.’ Why always target only Hindus? What about minority women? What about Triple Talaq? Are Muslim girls not our sisters and betis?” Rijiju said.
The Union minister argued that support for women’s empowerment should be inclusive and extend across communities.
“If you truly stand with women, stand with every woman, every community, every time,” he said, adding that selective campaigns could divide society rather than empower women.
Rijiju also highlighted the achievements of Indian women in science, defence and sports, pointing to their roles at ISRO, as fighter pilots and as Olympic medallists. He also cited initiatives such as Lakhpati Didis and Drone Didis as examples of “Nari Shakti”.
“Do not undermine Indian betis to divide Indian society,” Rijiju said.
His remarks came after Gandhi, while addressing a largely female audience, described India’s 70 crore women as the country’s biggest asset and criticised what he called rigid patriarchal structures that restrict women’s freedom and opportunities. Gandhi had called for the prevailing patriarchy to be “smashed” to ensure genuine empowerment of women.
Rijiju’s response adds to the ongoing political exchanges between the BJP and Congress over women’s empowerment, social justice and the interpretation of traditional and social structures.
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