Pune, August 22, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Saturday told students in Pune that India’s women are its greatest strength, while criticising patriarchal interpretations associated with the Manusmriti and urging young women to assert their independent identities.
Addressing the fourth edition of the Congress-led ‘Chatron Ki Gunj’ initiative under the theme ‘Pinjra Toda’ (Break the Cage), Gandhi said he had not come to discuss mainstream politics but to interact with Gen-Z students.
“When asked about India’s main strength, people point to the economy, the military, healthcare, or overall population. But my position is crystal clear: India’s 70 crore women are the nation’s greatest power,” he said.
Gandhi argued that women should not be defined solely through their relationships as daughters, wives or mothers. While acknowledging the importance of those roles, he said women have an individual identity and should not be dependent on anyone.
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Criticising what he described as restrictive ideas associated with the Manusmriti, Gandhi referred to the traditional notion that a woman should remain under the care of her father in childhood, her husband in youth and her sons in old age. He said the idea that women should never be independent was unacceptable.
He also highlighted the challenges faced by women despite their achievements and said women owned only eight per cent of property in India. He described the dreams and journeys of the country’s women as a source of its real strength and wealth.
Tribal Students Raise Grievances
During the interaction, a student, Nisha, presented Gandhi with a memorandum concerning the demands of tribal students protesting in Pune’s Manjari. She said students had been on hunger strike for 10 days and that one female student had been hospitalised after her health deteriorated.
Nisha alleged that tribal students faced serious problems involving food, accommodation, healthcare and basic infrastructure. She said central kitchens serving tribal schools transported food over distances of 70 to 80 km, resulting in spoilage and instances of food poisoning.
She also claimed that tribal ashram schools lacked basic facilities, including beds and drinking water. Referring to recent deaths in Gadchiroli, she said three students had died following snakebites involving krait species, while three others were undergoing treatment. She demanded compensation of at least Rs 1 crore for the families of the deceased students.
Nisha further raised concerns about the location of tribal hostels in Pune, saying students staying in facilities at Manjari and Kondhwa spent nearly four hours each day travelling, leaving less time for studies.
She also alleged that female students from Gadchiroli staying in tribal hostels were subjected to mandatory pregnancy tests after returning from Diwali holidays.
Nisha said tribal student representatives had approached the Mantralaya, where, according to her, the Tribal Development Minister expressed helplessness and said the matter was with the Chief Minister. She argued that ministers unable to deliver development for tribal students had no moral right to remain in office.
When Gandhi asked why she had not invited him to the protest site, Nisha invited him directly. Gandhi accepted the invitation and said his presence there would put pressure on the administration.
The Pune programme drew students from across Maharashtra and was attended by senior Congress leaders. Gandhi also met state party leaders to discuss organisational strategy and party mobilisation.
The event was held a day after clashes between members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) in Pune. Heavy security was deployed around the venue, and the programme concluded without further disruption.
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