Pune (Maharashtra) [India], August 22 : Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Saturday highlighted the potential of women in the country, emphasising that India's true strength lies in its citizens, particularly its women's population, while addressing the Congress party's Pune leg of 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' campaign here.
The Congress MP shared his views on women's rights, societal perceptions, and India's core strengths.
"Many times, people ask me, 'What is India's biggest strength?' You get many answers when you ask this question. Somebody will say our economy. Somebody will say our military. Somebody will say our medical system. Somebody might even say our people, but I am very clear on what is India's biggest strength, our biggest asset, and that strength is 70 crore unique journeys, unique imaginations, unique dreams that the women of India are living," he said.
Gandhi added that women are naturally more sensitive, gentle, compassionate, and forward-looking, making them fundamental to the nation's progress.
Further, he critiqued how society often restricts women to limited roles, ignoring their diverse professional and personal achievements.
"Whenever I speak to a man, women are put in three boxes. You are seen as a daughter, a wife, or a mother. Now, there is nothing wrong with being seen as a wife, daughter, or mother. But this cannot be your only identity," he said.
He reiterated that the women excelling in various domains must realise that being someone's wife, daughter, or mother is not their entire identity. He added that they deserve recognition far beyond these traditional societal limitations.
"It cannot be that we have brilliant women who are doing completely fascinating and different things, who are professionals, who are sportswomen, who do multiple different things, and then the only identity that they are given by our men is these three," he added.
Gandhi quoted ancient texts to underscore the alleged historical barriers placed on female independence.
"The Manusmriti says that ' in childhood, a female belongs to her father. In youth, she belongs to her husband. When her lord is dead, she belongs to her sons. A woman must never be independent.' This is a direct quote from the Manusmriti, and these words are a shame, because these words should never ever have been spoken," he alleged.
Rahul Gandhi launched 'Chhatron Ki Goonj', a nationwide student-led political campaign in mid-2026. The movement aims to be a national platform for student grievances in education and recruitment, such as exam irregularities, paper leaks, rising fees, privatisation of higher education, and unemployment linked to corruption in competitive recruitment. The campaign demands equal job opportunities and greater structural safety for aspirants.
Earlier, the Chhatron ki Goonj campaign was held in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh on August 8. Prior to that, Gandhi took the campaign to Dehradun, Uttarakhand on July 17. The first leg of the campaign was held in Kota, Rajasthan, on June 17.