New Delhi [India], August 23 : Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on Sunday hailed Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's 'Chhatro Ki Goonj' event in Pune, saying it is important hear the women's voices and give them a sense of confidence.
"I'm glad that the event that happened was a successful event because it's important to hear the women's voices. It's important to give them that sense of confidence that there is a leader who's talking about them and talking about how they have to get out of that mindset of patriarchy and fight that and smash it... But BJP will continue to say what it wants to...," Chaturvedi told ANI.
On Saturday, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi addressed the Pune leg of the 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' campaign, highlighting issues concerning women's safety, rights and social control, and asserting that violence, disrespect and concerns disguised as care can become tools of oppression.
Addressing the programme, Gandhi said women face multiple forms of violence and that safety concerns also lead to loss of educational and employment opportunities.
"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 said.
He cited figures on female foeticide, harassment and physical violence, claiming that millions of women face restrictions and safety-related challenges.
"Every year, 4,50,000 girls are killed before they are even born. That is the first form of violence," he said.
Gandhi further 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".
He also claimed that around 29-30 per cent of women experience physical violence and said, "6 out of every 100 women in India are raped.
Gandhi said violence also affects women indirectly by limiting their access to education and employment.
"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," he said.
The 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' campaign, launched by Gandhi in 2026, seeks to provide a platform for student concerns, including examination irregularities, paper leaks, rising education costs, recruitment-related issues and unemployment.
The campaign has previously been held in Kota, Dehradun and Prayagraj and is aimed at bringing student grievances into the national political discourse.