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Rahul Gandhi tells Pune students women 'belong to themselves', takes aim at Manusmriti and PM Modi's 'cultural shock' remark
At the Pune leg of 'Chhatron Ki Goonj', Rahul Gandhi urged women to 'smash patriarchy', rejected the Manusmriti's prescriptions about women's identities, and criticized PM Modi's 'cultural shock' remark. He also offered to join a tribal students' protest, while the event drew political reactions from Congress and BJP leaders.
By Tertius News AI Desk15 distinct · 18 mastheads · 31 articlesVersion 7Coverage Published
Rahul Gandhi tells Pune students women 'belong to themselves', takes aim at Manusmriti and PM Modi's 'cultural shock' remark
Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Saturday told a gathering of women students in Pune that women "belong to themselves" and not to their fathers, husbands or sons, terming as shameful the Manusmriti's prescription that a woman should remain under the authority of male relatives at every stage of her life. Speaking at the fourth edition of his party's youth outreach programme 'Chhatron Ki Goonj', held at the AISSMS College ground, Gandhi called India's 70 crore women the country's "biggest asset".
Gandhi quoted the Manusmriti, saying it "clearly says that in childhood a female must be subject to her father, in youth she belongs to her husband and, when her lord is dead, she belongs to her sons. A woman must never be independent." He added, "These words are a shame. These words should not have been spoken."
He told the audience, "You belong to nobody, except yourself. You have a relationship with your father, brother, husband, your son, but you do not belong to them, and you belong to yourself." He urged the young women to "break the cage" and said that while there was nothing wrong with being a daughter, wife or mother, "these cannot be your only identities." Gandhi argued that women are "by nature more sensitive, more gentle, more compassionate and more forward-looking than men", which is why he considered them India's greatest strength.
Critique of PM Modi and BJP-RSS mindset
Gandhi also trained his fire on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his reaction to the use of abusive language by girls during the Jantar Mantar protest. He played a video of Modi expressing "cultural shock" that "our daughters" used such language. Gandhi said both boys and girls had used abuses at the protest, but the Prime Minister singled out the girls. "If boys abuse, there is no problem, and it is allowed, but if a girl abuses, it is a cultural shock," he said.
He described this as part of a "patriarchal mindset" that gives men full freedom while placing restrictions on women. "Our fight is against such a mindset. We do not want a country which gives all the freedom to men, while women continue to live in a controlled environment," he said, adding, "We will work together to end the patriarchal system in India."
Gandhi also cited remarks by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and former Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, saying Bhagwat had claimed rapes happen in India and not in 'Bharat', and Khattar had said 80 per cent of rapes occur because of women. "These are the mindsets that we are fighting against, they want to cage women, they want to put restrictions on women," he said.
'Four methods of control' and statistics on violence
Gandhi described what he called society's four methods of controlling women: violence, disrespect, time and "control". He said restrictions imposed in the name of safety are often "control disguised as concern". He cited a series of statistics, claiming that 5 lakh girls are killed before birth every year, 80 per cent of women face harassment, 29 per cent experience physical violence, and 6 per cent of women are raped. He further said 99 per cent of sexual violence cases go unreported, 84 per cent of women need family permission to take up employment, and women earn 25 per cent less than men.
He said safety concerns lead to loss of educational and employment opportunities, with 50 per cent of women forgoing education or employment due to safety concerns, and that an average Indian woman spends an additional Rs 17,500 annually on safety measures. He also said women aged 15-29 spend 5 hours a day on household work compared to 30 minutes for men, and that 45 per cent of girls drop out of school due to household responsibilities or marriage.
Student interactions and tribal protest offer
Gandhi's address was interspersed with interactions with young women who shared their experiences. Students spoke about sexual harassment, unsafe public transport and financial hardship as barriers to education. Suchitra Pagi, an economics student from Palghar, recounted harassment she faced as a 13-year-old while walking home from school. Another student, Maitri, said safety concerns can be a barrier to education, especially for girls from rural areas. Pradnya Gavande, a second-year BSc student, said reputed colleges charge around Rs 3 lakh for cybersecurity courses, making them unaffordable for many, and called for more government college courses and scholarships. Students also raised concerns about the misuse of artificial intelligence to create obscene images of women.
Gandhi also offered to join tribal students protesting in Pune. Responding to a tribal student who described a 10-day hunger strike at Manjari, Gandhi said, "Call me there, I will come and sit with you." The student said two girls participating in the protest had been hospitalised, one with deteriorating health. The demands include extension of the age limit for staying in government tribal hostels, compensation of Rs 1 crore each for the families of three girls who died of snakebites in Gadchiroli, and implementation of recruitment for 12,500 tribal posts. The student also alleged that tribal girls were asked to produce "fitness certificates" after staying away from hostels for more than a month, including pregnancy tests.
Political reactions
The event drew sharp political reactions. Congress leader Pawan Khera said the 'Goonj' had reached Delhi and "panic" was visible in the national capital even before the message fully arrived. Congress leader Supriya Shrinate said "the future is female", while former MLA Alka Lamba alleged attempts were made to intimidate female students. Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole said forces that opposed the movement earlier are now in power and opposing Gandhi's visit. Vijay Wadettiwar denied allegations that people were paid to attend.
Union Minister Murlidhar Mohol criticised the programme, alleging that people were brought through payments and influencers. The ABVP and NSUI had clashed outside the venue two days earlier, and police booked NSUI workers. The Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee said the BJP made multiple attempts to disrupt the event.
How each outlet told it
A framing line is our reading of that outlet's own text — an interpretation, not a quotation and not a fact we assert. Check it against what the outlet published.
Framing: The headline emphasizes Priyanka Chaturvedi's praise for Rahul Gandhi's event and highlights the importance of hearing women's voices
Framing: Supportive of Gandhi's message, with a neutral but descriptive tone. The article repeats his quotes approvingly, using phrases like 'highlighting issues' and 'asserting that violence... can become tools of oppression.'
Facts Included:
Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi addressed the Pune leg of the 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' campaign on Saturday.
Gandhi said women face multiple forms of violence, including female foeticide, harassment, and physical violence.
He cited figures: 4,50,000 girls killed before birth annually, 80% of women facing harassment, 29-30% experiencing physical violence, and 6 out of 100 women raped in India.
He said violence indirectly limits women's education and employment, with 50% of women forgoing these due to safety concerns.
He mentioned an average Indian woman spends an additional Rs 17,500 annually on safety measures.
He described four methods of controlling women: violence, disrespect, time, and disguised concern.
He criticized defining women primarily through relationships (daughter, wife, mother) and emphasized their potential as India's strength.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and MP Priyanka Chaturvedi hailed Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's 'Chhatro Ki Goonj' event in Pune.
Chaturvedi said, "I'm glad that the event that happened was a successful event because it's important to hear the women's voices."
Rahul Gandhi addressed the Pune leg of the 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' campaign on Saturday.
Gandhi said, "Let's talk a bit about violence. That thought--'What if something happens?'... Family members tell you, 'Don't go there; something might happen.' There are three types of violence."
Gandhi cited figures: "Every year, 4,50,000 girls are killed before they are even born. That is the first form of violence."
Gandhi said, "Among the women here, 80% have faced harassment at some point--on the street, on the bus, in restaurants, at school, or in college."
Gandhi claimed, "6 out of every 100 women in India are raped."
Gandhi said, "50% of women forgo education or employment due to safety concerns. To avoid violence, half of all women drop out of school or quit their jobs."
Framing: The tone is largely neutral in reporting, though the inclusion of multiple Congress leaders' quotes without immediate rebuttal may give more weight to their perspective. The article uses direct quotes without editorial commentary, maintaining a factual tone. A representative quote is Pawan Khera's 'the panic in Delhi is visible even before the Goonj fully arrived.'
Facts Included:
Congress leader Pawan Khera said the 'Chhatro Ki Goonj' programme of Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi had reached Delhi and claimed 'panic' was visible in the national capital.
Rahul Gandhi held the 'Chhatron ki Goonj' campaign in Pune on Saturday, focusing on young women and female students.
Congress leader Supriya Shrinate said women constitute half of the country's population and asserted 'the future is female'.
Congress leader Nana Patole said forces that opposed the movement earlier are in power today and are opposing Rahul Gandhi's visit.
Congress leader and former MLA Alka Lamba claimed the programme was dedicated to female students and alleged attempts were made to intimidate them.
Alka Lamba mentioned ABVP goons and referenced pellet guns and questioned Amit Shah.
Alka Lamba questioned the RSS's history regarding singing 'Vande Mataram'.
Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar rejected allegations that people were paid to attend the event, saying students gathered to listen to Rahul Gandhi.
Union Minister Murlidhar Mohal criticised the programme, saying it would not achieve anything and alleged people were brought through payments and influencers.
Framing: The headline emphasizes Rahul Gandhi's statement that women belong to themselves and his rejection of the Manusmriti's prescription, highlighting the controversial aspect of his remarks.
Framing: The headline emphasizes Rahul Gandhi's statement that women belong to themselves and his rejection of the Manusmriti's prescription, highlighting a feminist and reformist angle
Facts Included:
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi spoke on Saturday in Pune.
Gandhi said women belong to themselves and not to their fathers, husbands or sons.
Gandhi termed as shameful the Manusmriti's norm that a woman should remain under the authority of male relatives at every stage of her life.
Gandhi described India's biggest strength as the '70 crore unique journeys, unique imagination, unique dreams' of its women.
The event was his party's youth outreach programme 'Chhatron Ki Goonj'.
Gandhi said women are the country's biggest asset and should stand for themselves.
Gandhi told the youth to 'break the cage' and that every individual is unique.
Gandhi explained why he considered women a greater asset: 'My logic is that women are by nature more sensitive, more gentle, more compassionate and more forward-looking than men.'
Gandhi noted women were often confined to three identities: daughter, wife, or mother.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that women belong to themselves and not to their fathers, husbands or sons.
He termed as shameful the Manusmriti's norm that a woman should remain under the authority of male relatives at every stage of her life.
He said India's biggest strength is the '70 crore unique journeys, unique imagination, unique dreams' of its women.
He spoke at his party's youth outreach programme 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' in Pune on August 22.
He said women are the country's biggest asset and should stand for themselves.
He said he had come to the city not to lecture or discuss politics, but to allow young people to express what they felt and discuss their ideas.
He told the audience to 'break the cage' and said every individual is unique and has their own dreams and vision.
He explained why he considered women a greater asset: 'My logic is that women are by nature more sensitive, more gentle, more compassionate and more forward-looking than men.'
Framing: The tone is neutral and reportorial, using direct quotes without overt editorializing. Example: 'Irani said: “Since he has invoked religion, I have a request to that prominent leader of the Congress.”'
Facts Included:
BJP general secretary Smriti Irani challenged Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi to support immediate implementation of 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures.
Irani asked Gandhi to arrange for the full version of Vande Mataram, including verses invoking Goddess Durga, to be sung at the Congress headquarters.
Gandhi, interacting with girl students at the ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ outreach programme in Pune, urged them to 'smash patriarchy' and criticised the 'Manusmriti mindset'.
Gandhi said violence was used to prevent women from progressing and that 80 per cent of women faced harassment.
Irani responded, '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.'
Irani said, 'Our religious ethos of Hindus not only upholds the tenet of 'Yatra naryastu pujyante ramante tatah' (where women are honoured, divinity resides), but we also worship goddesses like Bhagwati, Lakshmi and Saraswati.'
Irani stated, 'We worship Goddess Durga as the embodiment of 'Shakti' (divine power). I urge that the full rendition of Vande Mataram, including the verses invoking Goddess Durga, be performed at the Congress headquarters.'
Irani noted that Parliament had already passed legislation providing 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies.
Framing: The headline emphasizes Congress leader Pawan Khera's claim of 'panic' in Delhi due to Rahul Gandhi's outreach, highlighting the opposition's perspective. — The tone is neutral, reporting multiple perspectives without overt bias.
Facts Included:
Congress leader Pawan Khera said Rahul Gandhi's 'Chhatro Ki Goonj' programme reached Delhi and claimed 'panic' was visible in the national capital.
Rahul Gandhi held the 'Chhatron ki Goonj' campaign in Pune, focusing on young women and female students.
Congress leader Supriya Shrinate said women constitute half of the country's population and asserted 'the future is female'.
Congress leader Nana Patole said faith in Rahul Gandhi was visible and claimed forces opposing the movement are in power.
Congress leader and former MLA Alka Lamba claimed Rahul Gandhi dedicated the programme to female students and alleged attempts to intimidate them.
Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar rejected allegations that people were paid to attend the event.
Union Minister Murlidhar Mohol criticised the programme, saying Rahul Gandhi's tours had not created any impact and alleged people were brought through payments and influencers.
Framing: Supportive/celebratory: The tone is largely positive toward Gandhi's message, using phrases like 'urged young women to break free' and describing the message as reinforcing 'women's independence.' It presents his statements without critical counterpoints, maintaining a favorable tone.
Facts Included:
Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi addressed the fourth edition of ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ in Pune.
Gandhi said women must have the freedom to decide their careers, relationships, and future for themselves.
Gandhi called India's 70 crore women the country's 'biggest strength' and described them as representing '70 crore unique journeys, unique imagination and unique dreams.'
Gandhi criticized the traditional prescription from the Manusmriti that a woman remains under the authority of her father in childhood, husband in youth, and son later in life.
A presentation at the event, titled 'Time is Weaponised', cited figures from the Time Use Survey 2024 and SRS Statistical Report 2024 showing women aged 15-29 spend about 5.5 hours on housework compared to 30 minutes for men.
A presentation titled 'Disrespect' cited that 99% of sexual violence cases are unreported, 84% of women require family permission to work, and salaried women earn 25% less.
A presentation titled 'Total Control' cited that 60% of women cannot leave home alone, 45% of dropouts leave education due to marriage or housework, and only 8% of women own land independently.
Gandhi spoke about the 'cost of violence' dividing it into physical, opportunity, and financial costs, citing female foeticide at 4.5 lakh a year, harassment at 80%, physical violence at 29%, and rape at 6%.
The article states that 50% of women are forced to reject work or education due to safety concerns and an additional Rs 17,500 a year is spent on safe travel.
A young woman who identified as a recently graduated lawyer spoke about male classmates receiving greater professional opportunities and cases.
Gandhi argued that the issue is not merely about women being allowed to enter professional spaces, but about giving them the con[?]
Framing: The headline emphasizes the attack on Rahul Gandhi's 'smash patriarchy' call by quoting Poonawalla's retort, framing the story as a political clash and focusing on the criticism rather than the original statement's context.
Facts Included:
Shehzad Poonawalla and BJP were responding to Rahul Gandhi's call to 'smash the patriarchy' during his party's 'Chhatro ki Goonj' programme in Pune.
Poonawalla accused Rahul Gandhi of endorsing 'misogyny, sexism and patriarchy' and referenced a 'crass comment' made with Sandeep Dikshit about Meloni.
The BJP accused Congress of opposing the Women's Reservation Bill, the Triple Talaq Bill, and Draupadi Murmu's candidature for President.
The BJP alleged that Congress leaders made abusive remarks against PM Modi's late mother and senior leaders made misogynistic remarks against women.
Poonawalla resigned from the BJP and stated he remains a 'lifelong follower of PM Modi'.
Poonawalla wrote on X: 'Rahul Gandhi will never be PM of India till I am alive' and 'Tareeka badla hai, maqsad nahi' (The method has changed, not the objective).
Poonawalla responded to a post that read: 'Shehzad Poonawala is still destroying Congress left right & centre.'
Poonawalla began his political journey as a Congress volunteer around 2008 while a student, later serving as vice-president of the Pune unit of the NSUI and as secretary of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee.
He broke ties with Congress in 2017 after criticising the party's internal presidential election process, alleging it was 'rigged' in favour of Rahul Gandhi, and joined the BJP the same year.
Framing: The headline emphasizes Rahul Gandhi's accusation that PM Modi singled out girls for abuse at Jantar Mantar, framing it as a gender-based double standard — The tone is sympathetic to Gandhi's message, as seen in the quote: 'Women must stand on their own feet and build their own identity. A girl may have relationships as a father, brother, husband, or son, but she is not their property — she belongs to herself.'
Facts Included:
Rahul Gandhi spoke at his Chhatron ki Goonj initiative at Pune's SSPMS Grounds on Saturday.
Gandhi said that at the Jantar Mantar protests, both boys and girls used abuses, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi singled out girls for it.
Gandhi quoted the Manusmriti, saying it states a female must be subject to her father in youth, husband when young, and later her son.
Gandhi said there were 4.5 lakh cases of female foeticide in India every year.
Gandhi said 80 per cent of women faced harassment daily, 29 per cent experienced physical violence, and 6 per cent were raped.
Gandhi said women do 5.5 hours of household work compared to 30 minutes by men.
The Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) said the BJP made multiple attempts to disrupt the event.
Framing: The tone is neutral and reportorial, simply relaying the statements without overt emotional language. Example: "Irani said Gandhi should translate his support for women's rights into action..."
Framing: The headline emphasizes Rahul Gandhi's criticism of the Manusmriti's norm on women's subordination and his characterization of it as a shame — The tone is neutral and reportorial, presenting Gandhi's quotes without overt endorsement or criticism. For example, it quotes his words 'These words are a shame' without editorial comment.
Facts Included:
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said that women belong to themselves and not to their fathers, husbands or sons.
Gandhi termed as shameful the Manusmriti's norm that a woman should remain under the authority of male relatives at every stage of her life.
Gandhi said India's biggest strength is the '70 crore unique journeys, unique imagination, unique dreams' of its women.
The remarks were made at his party's youth outreach programme, 'Chhatron Ki Goonj'.
Gandhi quoted the Manusmriti: 'in childhood a female must be subject to her father, in youth she belongs to her husband and, when her lord is dead, she belongs to her sons. A woman must never be independent.'
Gandhi said, 'These words are a shame. These words should not have been spoken.'
Gandhi said, 'You belong to nobody, except yourself. You have a relationship with your father, brother, husband, your son, but you do not belong to them, and you belong to yourself.'
Gandhi said he had come to the city not to lecture or discuss politics, but to allow young people to express what they felt and discuss their ideas.
The programme was held on the grounds of a local college, where young women were present in large numbers.
Gandhi told the youth, 'You are unique, you are special, you are an individual, and you have your own dream and vision.'
Gandhi said, 'My logic is that women are by nature more sensitive, more gentle, more compassionate and more forward-looking than men.'
Gandhi said women were often confined to three identities; daughter, wife or mother, and added that while there was nothing wrong with that, they were not limited to those roles.
BJP general secretary Smriti Irani challenged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to back the immediate implementation of 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures.
Irani also challenged the Congress to have the full version of Vande Mataram sung at the Congress headquarters.
Irani's remarks came a day after Gandhi asked girl students to 'smash patriarchy' during his 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' outreach programme in Pune.
Irani said Gandhi should translate his support for women's rights into action by backing the implementation of the women's reservation law.
Irani told reporters: '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 per cent reservation for women in Parliament.'
Irani challenged the Congress to organise a full rendition of Vande Mataram, including verses invoking Goddess Durga, at its headquarters.
Irani said: '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.'
The BJP has previously criticised the Congress over the singing of only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram at party programmes.
Irani said Hindu traditions revered women and cited the worship of Goddesses Lakshmi, Saraswati and Durga.
Irani said: 'We worship Goddess Durga as the embodiment of 'Shakti' (divine power). I urge that the full rendition of Vande Mataram, including the verses invoking Goddess Durga, be performed at the Congress headquarters.'
Gandhi, while interacting with girl students in Pune on Saturday, had criticised what he called the 'Manusmriti mindset', saying it sought to keep women under the authority of male relatives throughout their lives.
Gandhi also alleged that violence was used to prevent women from progressing.
Gandhi claimed that 80 per cent of women fac (truncated in the article)
Framing: The tone is supportive of Gandhi's criticism, using words like 'slams' and highlighting his quotes, but it remains relatively neutral in reporting the event, with no overt editorializing.
Facts Included:
Rahul Gandhi criticized PM Modi's remark about girls using abusive language during a protest at Jantar Mantar
Gandhi spoke at his 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' outreach programme
Gandhi said both boys and girls had used abusive language during the agitation over paper leaks
Gandhi quoted PM Modi as saying 'disgusting expletives' were targeted at him and his late mother at the protest
PM Modi said 'It is a cultural shock to us that how can our daughters use this language'
PM Modi said 'I want to forgive them'
Gandhi referred to a 'Manusmriti mindset' and quoted a verse that a woman must obey her father, husband, and sons
Gandhi said women belong to themselves and not to fathers, husbands, or sons
Gandhi said women are the country's biggest asset
Gandhi cited an old statement by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat that rape happens in 'India' and not in 'Bharat'
Gandhi cited former Haryana Chief Minister ML Khattar's alleged comment that 80 per cent of rapes happen because of women
Framing: The headline emphasizes Rahul Gandhi's personal pledge to join the protest, framing him as a supportive ally — supportive — e.g., Gandhi's quote 'Call me there, I will come and sit with you' presents him as committed to the cause, and the article highlights the student's 'hardships' without critical commentary.
Facts Included:
Rahul Gandhi attended an interaction programme called 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' in Pune on Saturday.
A tribal student told Gandhi that tribal youth had been on a hunger strike for the past 10 days at Manjari in Pune.
The student said two women students were participating in the fast and one had been hospitalised after her condition worsened.
The student demanded reforms in hostel rules, better educational facilities, and an increase in the age limit for students staying in government tribal hostels to 35 years.
The student accused the state government of ignoring repeated representations from the tribal community and said officials told protesters the matter rested with the chief minister.
The student highlighted issues including poor infrastructure in ashram schools, lack of drinking water and beds, and inadequate healthcare facilities.
The student criticised the centralised kitchen system used in several tribal schools, claiming food prepared at distant locations often travelled long distances before reaching students.
The student referred to a recent tragedy in Gadchiroli in which three tribal girl students died after a snakebite incident in a residential school.
The student demanded compensation of at least Rs 1 crore for each victim's family and called for round-the-clock medical staff at tribal educational institutions.
Gandhi responded, 'Call me there, I will come and sit with you. A little more pressure will build up,' signalling his readiness to join the protest.
Framing: The headline emphasizes the barriers to women's education, specifically unsafe transport and harassment — The tone is neutral and factual, reporting the students' statements without emotional language. For example, the article states 'their accounts underlined how safety, affordability and support systems shape women's access to study and work.'
Facts Included:
Women students told Congress MP Rahul Gandhi at the Chhatron ki Goonj programme in Pune that harassment, unsafe travel and high fees hinder their education.
Suchitra Pagi, an economics student from Vasai in Palghar, recounted incidents of harassment she faced as a 13-year-old while walking home from school and later while travelling on public transport.
Maitri, a psychology student in Pune, said safety concerns can be a barrier to education, especially for girls from rural areas, and that parents often hesitate to send daughters away for higher education due to safety worries.
Pradnya Gavande, a second-year BSc student of Cyber and Digital Science, spoke about financial barriers to specialised courses like cybersecurity, noting that reputed colleges charge around Rs 3 lakh, making them unaffordable for students from weaker financial backgrounds.
Gavande, who also works part-time, called for more cybersecurity courses in government colleges and scholarships for students.
Gavande also raised concern over the growing misuse of artificial intelligence to create obscene images of women and extort money from them.
Framing: The headline emphasizes Smriti Irani's demands on Rahul Gandhi—support for women's reservation and full rendition of Vande Mataram—highlighting the BJP's counter to Gandhi's remarks — The tone is neutral and reportorial, presenting statements from both politicians without explicit bias, though the structure gives slightly more space to Irani's repeated demands and quotes.
Facts Included:
Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, called women India's 'greatest asset'
Rahul Gandhi spoke at 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' event in Pune on Saturday
Rahul Gandhi urged young women to 'break the cage'
Rahul Gandhi critiqued patriarchal frameworks, linking them to 'Manusmriti mindset'
Smriti Irani, BJP National General Secretary, asked Rahul Gandhi to support 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam'
Smriti Irani asked Rahul Gandhi to allow full rendition of Vande Mataram at Congress headquarters
Smriti Irani said PM Modi introduced and passed a law providing 33% reservation for women in Parliament and State Assemblies
Smriti Irani said PM Modi appealed to all political parties to support swift implementation of women's reservation
Smriti Irani mentioned worship of Goddesses Bhagavathi, Lakshmi, and Saraswati, and Maa Durga as 'Shakti'
A controversy erupted over conduct of senior Congress leaders during rendition of national song at Congress headquarters on Independence Day
Framing: The headline emphasizes Smriti Irani's challenge to Rahul Gandhi, focusing on her counter-response rather than Gandhi's original remarks or the women's issues discussed. — The tone is neutral and reportorial, presenting both politicians' statements without overt bias. For example, it states 'Irani also referred to Hindu traditions' and 'Gandhi also criticised' without evaluative language.
Facts Included:
BJP national general secretary Smriti Irani on Sunday challenged Rahul Gandhi to back the swift implementation of 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures.
Irani urged the Congress to organise a full rendition of Vande Mataram that includes invocation of Goddess Durga at the party office.
Irani's remarks came in response to Gandhi's outreach to women at his 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' programme in Pune on Saturday.
Gandhi urged women to 'smash patriarchy', described them as the 'strength of India' and spoke out against violence against women.
Irani said Gandhi should put his remarks into action by backing the 'immediate implementation' of women's reservation.
Irani referred to Hindu traditions, saying 'Yatra naryastu pujyante ramante tatra devatah' (where women are honoured, divinity resides).
Gandhi claimed 80 per cent of women face harassment.
Students at the event highlighted sexual harassment, safety concerns, lack of public transport, and financial constraints affecting women's access to education and economic independence.
Gandhi listed 'three forms of violence against women -- physical violence, violence through denial of opportunities, economic violence'.
Gandhi criticised what he described as a 'Manusmriti mindset', saying it forces women to remain under...
Framing: The headline emphasizes Rahul Gandhi's criticism of PM Modi's remarks, framing it as a clash over gender bias — The tone is supportive of Gandhi's position, using descriptive language like 'slammed' and 'criticized' to frame his actions, and presenting his quotes without critical counterpoints.
Facts Included:
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his recent comments on girls using abusive language during a protest.
The incident occurred at Jantar Mantar, where both boys and girls were involved in an agitation over paper leaks.
PM Modi had expressed 'cultural shock' at the use of abusive language by girls, saying his mother and he were targeted with 'disgusting expletives.'
During his 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' outreach program, Gandhi questioned the mindset where boys are given more freedom than girls.
Gandhi said, 'If boys abuse, there is no problem, and it is allowed, but if a girl abuses, it is a cultural shock.'
Gandhi criticized the 'Manusmriti mindset,' quoting a verse from the ancient text that says a woman must obey her father during childhood, belongs to her husband in youth and, after his death, belongs to her sons.
Gandhi said women belong to themselves and not their fathers, husbands, or sons. He urged women to stand up for themselves, calling them India's biggest strength.
He said, 'India's biggest strength is the 70 crore unique journeys, unique imagination, unique dreams' of its women.
He asked girl students to 'smash the patriarchy,' adding that violence is used in society to prevent women's progress.
Gandhi highlighted three forms of violence against women: 'Physical violence, denial of opportunities, and economic violence.'
He cited alarming statistics such as 4.5 lakh female foe
Framing: The headline emphasizes the campaign's arrival and the political clash, mentioning both Congress and BJP, without taking a side.
Facts Included:
Congress leader Pawan Khera said Rahul Gandhi's 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' programme had reached Delhi from Pune.
Khera claimed the outreach had triggered 'panic' in the national capital.
The latest edition of the campaign focused on young women and female students.
Congress leaders highlighted issues concerning youth.
Union Minister Murlidhar Mohol criticised the programme and questioned its impact.
The campaign seeks to provide students and young people with a platform to raise concerns over issues including examination irregularities, paper leaks, rising education costs, recruitment problems and unemployment.
Khera said governments should also engage directly with young people.
Khera argued that they have a specific duty towards the youth.
Congress leader Supriya Shrinate said women make up half of India's population.
Shrinate described the campaign as a platform for women to raise their voices.
Former MLA Alka Lamba said the Pune programme was dedicated to female students.
Lamba alleged that attempts had been made to intimidate participants.
Lamba raised questions over the BJP and RSS' position on 'Vande Mataram'.
Congress leader Nana Patole said the gathering reflected the faith placed in Gandhi.
Patole claimed that those who had opposed the movement in the past were now opposing his outreach.
Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar rejected allegations that people had been paid to attend the event.
Wadettiwar said students and young people had gathered to listen to Gandhi and share their concerns.
Union Minister Murlidhar Mohol criticised Gandhi's nationwide outreach, saying it had failed to create an impact.
Mohol claimed Pune voters had consistently backed leaders based on their performance.
Framing: The headline emphasizes the BJP's challenge to Rahul Gandhi, using the imperative 'Support' and 'full Vande Mataram rendition', framing it as a direct demand that links women's reservation to a patriotic/religious symbol. — The tone is neutral, reporting both sides without overt editorializing; a brief quote from Irani, 'I urge that the full rendition of Vande Mataram... be performed at the Congress headquarters,' illustrates the factual presentation of her demand.
Framing: The headline emphasizes Rahul Gandhi's call for women to challenge patriarchy, highlighting his critique of traditional mindsets. — Supportive and assertive, with a tone of advocacy for women's rights, as seen in quotes like 'women are India's biggest asset'.
Facts Included:
Rahul Gandhi addressed his fourth 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' in Pune.
Gandhi criticized the 'Manusmriti mindset' for keeping women under male control.
He also criticized PM Modi over remarks on a protest, quoting 'boys also abused and girls also abused'.
Gandhi cited remarks by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and BJP leader Manohar Lal Khattar.
He cited statistics: 4.5 lakh girls killed before birth, 80% women face harassment, 29% face physical violence, 6% raped, 99% sexual violence unreported, 50% denied education/employment opportunities, 84% need family permission for jobs, 25% less pay, 8% own land.
He said women spend 5.5 hours daily on household work vs 30 minutes for men.
He called women India's 'biggest asset' and urged them to break the ceiling.
Students Tejwini and Gyaneshwari shared personal experiences about family pressure and property rights.
BJP general secretary Smriti Irani on Sunday asked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to back the implementation of 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures.
Irani also asked Gandhi to organise the singing of a full version of Vande Mataram that includes invocation of Goddess Durga at his party office.
Gandhi, interacting with girl students at his ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ outreach programme in Pune on Saturday, urged girl students to “smash patriarchy”.
Gandhi lashed out at “Manusmriti mindset”, claiming it forces a woman to remain under the authority of male relatives at every stage of her life.
Gandhi said violence is used in society to prevent women from progressing and that 80 per cent of them face harassment.
Irani referred to the row over the Congress’ decision to sing only two stanzas of the ‘Vande Mataram’ at their party programmes.
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.”
Irani said, “We worship Goddess Durga as the embodiment of ‘Shakti’ (divine power). I urge that the full rendition of Vande Mataram, including the verses invoking Goddess Durga, be performed at the Congress headquarters.”
Irani said Gandhi can put his words spoken yesterday in support of women and their leadership into action by backing the “immediate implementation” of reservation for women.
Irani said a Bill ensuring 33 per cent reservation for women across the country to enhance the dignity of Parliament through their presence has already been passed.
Rahul Gandhi offered to join tribal students' hunger strike in Pune.
The event was called 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' and took place in Pune.
A woman told Gandhi that tribal students had been on hunger strike at Manjari in Pune for 10 days.
Two girls were participating in the protest and one had been hospitalized due to health deterioration.
The student said tribal community representatives approached the state government but were told the issue was with the chief minister.
The woman said, 'If you cannot work for the development of tribal students, then you have no right to sit in that chair.'
The students' demands included extension of age limit for staying in government tribal hostels, improvement of hostel and school conditions, compensation of Rs 1 crore each to families of three girls who died of snakebites in Gadchiroli, and implementation of recruitment for 12,500 tribal posts.
The woman alleged tribal girls were asked to produce 'fitness certificates' after staying away from hostels for over a month and that pregnancy tests were conducted.
She questioned the need for such a practice and urged administration intervention.
According to her, tribal hostels in cities like Pune and Mumbai were often far from schools, causing long commutes and leaving little time to study.
Gandhi publicly interacted with female students on issues including access to education, financial independence, public transport safety, and cyber harassment.
Framing: Critical of Modi's remark, with Gandhi's perspective presented sympathetically, as seen in the quote 'This is the kind of India we don't want. We want justice. We want equal respect for both boys and girls.'
Facts Included:
Rahul Gandhi criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi's comments about a protest where both boys and girls used offensive language.
Gandhi highlighted the PM's focus on girls as a cultural shock.
The protest at Jantar Mantar involved abusive language used by both girls and boys.
Modi called the girls' use of abusive language a 'cultural shock'.
Gandhi said, 'This is the kind of India we don't want. We want justice. We want equal respect for both boys and girls.'
Modi's video message was shared on Instagram on July 31.
Modi said, 'Some mischievous youngsters hurled abusive and obscene insults. They used language that has no place in any civilized society.'
Modi said, 'They abused me. Not just me, but they also abused my late mother.'
Modi said, 'I don’t know what kind of state of mind they were in, but today I want to say that mistakes happen in childhood and youth...'
Modi said, 'It’s a cultural shock that how can our daughters speak this kind of language.'
Modi said, 'I want to forgive them. I hope they will also accept my appeal...'
Modi said, 'It is our duty to show them the right path. Guiding someone who has gone astray is difficult, but difficult tasks must be undertaken.'
Gandhi also lashed out at 'Manusmriti mindset' and urged girl students to 'smash patriarchy'.
Gandhi said, 'Women belong to themselves and not to their fathers, husbands or sons.'
Framing: The headline emphasizes the students' protest against the age cap — Neutral reporting with sympathetic quotes from protesters, e.g., 'govt is not listening to us'.
Framing: The headline emphasizes Rahul Gandhi's statement about women as India's asset and the call to 'smash patriarchy'
Facts Included:
Rahul Gandhi spoke at AISSMS College ground in Pune as part of Congress's 'Chhatron ki Goonj' initiative.
He said '70 crore women are India's biggest asset' and called for smashing patriarchy.
He referenced a video of Prime Minister Narendra Modi shown at a 'Cockroach Janta Party' protest at Jantar Mantar.
Rahul Gandhi said 99% of sexual violence cases go unreported in the country.
A woman named Neha, described as a Bhojpuri satirist, performed songs and said she faced an FIR and abuses over five years.
A student named Sharayu Chopade said she was dejected about the FDA inspector exam paper leak in Pune.
Rahul Gandhi responded that paper leaks have a different impact on men and women, as men have more time to reappear.
Framing: The headline emphasizes Rahul Gandhi's attack on PM Modi's reaction to girls using cuss words, framing it as a contrast between treatment of boys and girls — The tone is reportorial and direct, carrying a critical edge, as exemplified by 'Gandhi said the fight was against a system that gives men greater freedom while placing restrictions on women.'
Facts Included:
Rahul Gandhi addressed women students in Pune on Saturday.
Gandhi criticized a patriarchal mindset and said PM Modi was 'culturally shocked' when girls used cuss words during a protest.
Gandhi said the fight was against a system that gives men greater freedom while placing restrictions on women.
Gandhi referred to a video of Modi released after a 'Cockroach Janta Party' protest at Jantar Mantar.
Gandhi invoked Manusmriti and said 'a woman must never be independent,' but he rejected that phrase for modern women.
Gandhi claimed that 99% of sexual violence cases in the country go unreported.
Gandhi spoke about examination paper leaks, saying they affect women differently due to family expectations around marriage.
A student named Sharayu Chopade spoke about being dejected after the recent FDA inspector examination paper leak in Pune.
Another participant, Suchitra Pagi from Palghar, spoke about facing sexual harassment by three men from a neighbouring village and villagers opposing her when she lodged a police complaint.
The Pune event was the fourth edition of the Congress' 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' student outreach programme, following editions in Kota and Dehradun.
Rahul Gandhi addressed women students in Pune on Saturday.
Gandhi criticized a patriarchal mindset and said PM Modi was 'culturally shocked' when girls used cuss words during a protest.
Gandhi said the fight was against a system that gives men greater freedom while placing restrictions on women.
Gandhi referred to a video of Modi released after a 'Cockroach Janta Party' protest at Jantar Mantar.
Gandhi invoked Manusmriti and said 'a woman must never be independent,' but he rejected that phrase for modern women.
Gandhi claimed that 99% of sexual violence cases in the country go unreported.
Gandhi spoke about examination paper leaks, saying they affect women differently due to family expectations around marriage.
A student named Sharayu Chopade spoke about being dejected after the recent FDA inspector examination paper leak in Pune.
Another participant, Suchitra Pagi from Palghar, spoke about facing sexual harassment by three men from a neighbouring village and villagers opposing her when she lodged a police complaint.
The Pune event was the fourth edition of the Congress' 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' student outreach programme, following editions in Kota and Dehradun.
Framing: The tone is adversarial and critical of Gandhi, as seen in the framing of Irani's challenge and the repeated emphasis on the 'insult' to the national song.
Facts Included:
BJP general secretary Smriti Irani on Sunday asked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to back the implementation of 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures.
Irani also urged Gandhi to organise the singing of a full version of Vande Mataram, including verses invoking Goddess Durga, at the Congress headquarters.
Gandhi was interacting with girl students at his 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' outreach programme in Pune on Saturday.
Gandhi urged girl students to 'smash patriarchy' and lashed out at 'Manusmriti mindset', claiming it forces women to remain under the authority of male relatives.
The former Congress president said violence is used in society to prevent women from progressing and that 80 per cent of them face harassment.
Irani referred to the Congress' decision to sing only two stanzas of Vande Mataram at their party programmes, which the BJP has decried as an 'insult'.
Irani said, 'Our religious ethos of Hindus not only upholds the tenet of 'Yatra naryastu pujyante ramante tatra devatah...' but we also worship Goddesses.'
Irani said, 'We worship Goddess Durga as the embodiment of Shakti. I urge that the full rendition of Vande Mataram... be performed at the Congress headquarters.'
A Bill ensuring 33 per cent reservation for women across the country to enhance the dignity of Parliament through their presence has already been mentioned.
Framing: The headline emphasizes Gandhi's directive to women to 'oppose patriarchy' and 'fight for rights', framing him as a champion of women's empowerment — Supportive of Gandhi's stance, with phrases like 'urged young girls to break this mindset' and 'told a crowd of around 15,000 girls' implying a positive, motivational context.
Facts Included:
Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, spoke at an interactive programme called 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' with female students and young professionals from various parts of Maharashtra.
Gandhi urged young girls to break the mindset of patriarchy and fight for their rights, saying they are the future of the nation.
Gandhi referred to PM Modi's earlier comment describing the use of abusive language by girls during the Jantar Mantar protest as a 'cultural shock'.
Gandhi said both boys and girls used abusive language during the Jantar Mantar protest, but such language is tolerated when used by boys, while it is seen as a cultural shock when girls use it.
Gandhi mentioned that RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had said rapes occur only in India and not in 'Bharat'.
Gandhi mentioned that Union Minister Manohar Lal had said 80 per cent of rape cases occur because of women.
Gandhi criticized the social tendency to categorise women first as daughters, then as wives, and then as mothers, linking this to the ancient 'Manusmriti'.
Gandhi spoke to a crowd of around 15,000 girls, mostly young undergraduates, at an engineering college ground.
The crowd was described as 'incessant cheering' and 'largely outnumbered the men'.
Framing: The headline emphasizes Gandhi's message to Gen Z women to 'be loud, be proud, fight for your space,' highlighting his engagement with youth and women's empowerment
Facts Included:
Rahul Gandhi delivered his fourth 'Chhatron ki Goonj' address in Pune on Saturday (August 22, 2026), his first in Maharashtra.
Gandhi urged Gen Z women to 'smash' the patriarchy, saying 'Be loud, be proud and fight for your space in society.'
He spoke in Marathi, saying 'Pune mhanje prem [Pune means love],' drawing cheers from the youngsters.
His address lasted over an hour and included interactions with young women from different backgrounds who spoke of their concerns.
He stated that the 70 crore women of India are more important than the 70 crore men.
He criticized BJP leadership, saying they are responsible for the 'return of the Manusmriti,' referencing a clip of PM Modi expressing 'cultural shock' at foul language used by young girls during the Jantar Mantar protest.
Gandhi cited statistics: 'Every six out of 100 women are raped in India,' '50% of women reject jobs due to safety concerns,' '60% of girls cannot go out of the house alone,' '45% drop out of school due to household responsibilities or marriage,' 'only 8% of women in India own property independently,' '99% of cases of sexual violence go unreported due to shame,' and '84% of women have to ask permission to work.'
He also mentioned that women get paid 25% less than men.
He addressed issues of violence, disrespect, control, and time as measures of exerting control over women.
He said 'The Manusmriti is back' and called for girls not to bear an additional burden.
He asked tribal girls to invite him to the ongoing protest in Pune over tribal issues.
AI-extracted; can misattribute a claim — see Methodology.
Each row is one claim, attributed to the outlet whose wording states it most clearly. Confidence rates how directly the source text states the claim — explicit and unhedged rates high; hedged, pieced-together, or internally inconsistent statements rate lower. It does not measure whether the claim is true. Status is Contested when two claims on this page negate each other; otherwise it counts the distinct outlets we found asserting it — so a single-source claim can still show high confidence, and a multi-source claim can show medium. Every one of those outlets is named beside the status, so you can check the count against the list. For claims extracted before we began storing that list, the row says so: it names the outlet the claim is quoted from and states that we have not recorded which outlets backed it. Outlets wrote at different times, so a figure that evolves — a casualty count, for example — can legitimately differ between rows; check the "as of" time next to each claim's source.
Claim
Confidence
Status
ClaimRahul Gandhi said 'smash patriarchy' at AISSMS College ground in Pune as part of Congress's 'Chhatron ki Goonj' initiative.
ClaimThe tribal students' demands include extension of age limit for staying in government tribal hostels, compensation of Rs 1 crore each for families of three girls who died of snakebites in Gadchiroli, and implementation of recruitment for 12,500 tribal posts.
ClaimA tribal student alleged that tribal girls were asked to produce 'fitness certificates' after being away from hostels for more than a month, including pregnancy tests.
15 distinct · 18 mastheads · 31 articles consulted: ANI (Asian News International), Daily Excelsior, Deccan Chronicle, The Economic Times, Free Press Journal, Hindustan Times, The Indian Express, India Today, Lokmat Times, Moneycontrol, The New Indian Express, NewsBytes, Outlook India, ThePrint, Times Now, The Times of India, The Tribune, The Hindu — World66 claims extractedVersion 7Written 2026-08-23