BJP general secretary Smriti Irani on Sunday (August 23, 2026) asked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to validate his words on supporting women by backing the implementation of 33% reservation for women in legislatures and also organising the singing of a full version of Vande Mataram that includes invocation of Goddess Durga at his party office.
“Since he has invoked religion, I have a request to that prominent leader of the Congress. The verses of Vande Mataram, some of which were halted at the Congress headquarters, contain a reference to Goddess Durga,” Ms. Hitting back at Mr. Gandhi, Ms. “We worship Goddess Durga as the embodiment of ‘ Shakti ‘ [divine power].
Interacting with girl students at his ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ outreach programme in Pune on Saturday (August 22), Mr. The former Congress president also said violence is used in society to prevent women from progressing and that 80% of them face harassment.
Gandhi urged girl students to “smash patriarchy” and lashed out at “Manusmriti mindset”, claiming that it forces a woman to remain under the authority of male relatives at every stage of her life. Irani, the newly appointed BJP national general secretary, told reporters in New Delhi. Irani said, “Our religious ethos of Hindus not only upholds the tenet of ‘ Yatra naryastu pujyante ramante tatra devatah (where women are honoured, divinity resides)’, but we also worship Goddesses like Bhagwati, Lakshmi and Saraswati. I urge that the full rendition of Vande Mataram, including the verses invoking Goddess Durga, be performed at the Congress headquarters,” she said. Mr Gandhi can put into action the words he spoke yesterday in support of women and their leadership by backing the “immediate implementation” of reservation for women and organising the rendition of the full version of Vande Mataram at the Congress headquarters, Ms Irani said.
“Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi stated at an event that he supports women. A Bill ensuring 33% reservation for women across the country to enhance Parliament’s dignity through their presence has already been passed, the former Union Minister said. Since a key Congress leader has spoken in support of women and women’s leadership, I humbly request him to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative to swiftly implement the bill granting 33% reservation for women in Parliament,” she said.
Earlier reporting noted: Rahul Gandhi calls for ‘end to patriarchy’ at Pune event after PM Modi’s ‘cultural shock’ remark Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Saturday highlighted several issues concerning women’s safety, rights and social control, and lashed out at “Manusmriti mindset”, while addressing the Pune leg of the “Chhatron Ki Goonj” campaign that he said was dedicated to “daughters of the nation”. Earlier reporting noted: Interacting with students at his outreach programme in Pune, Gandhi said women belonged to themselves and not to their fathers, husbands or sons, and slammed the Manusmriti’s prescription that a woman should remain under the authority of male relatives at every stage of her life. Earlier reporting noted: He also targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and played a video of Modi referring to abusive language used by girls during the agitation at Jantar Mantar over paper leaks and wondering how “daughters” could use such language, calling it a cultural shock.
