Be loud, be proud, fight for your space, Rahul Gandhi tells Gen Z girls

In his fourth "Chhatron ki Goonj" address, held in Pune on August 22nd, 2026, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi called upon Generation Z women to "smash" the patriarchy. Addressing girl students at the AISSMS grounds, he urged them to be loud, proud, and fight for their place in society.

Drawing cheers from the audience, Gandhi spoke in Marathi, proclaiming, "Pune mhanje prem" (Pune means love). His speech, which lasted over an hour, featured interactions with young women from diverse backgrounds who shared their concerns.

The 70 crore women of India are more important than the 70 crore men of the country, he declared, criticizing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership for promoting the return of the Manusmriti. Referencing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's shock at foul language used by young girls during the Jantar Mantar protest, Gandhi highlighted the double standard of the BJP's stance on men and women using such language.

Gandhi alleged that the BJP believed 80% of rapes were due to women's actions, asserting that they did not want an India where boys had full freedom while girls were kept in cages. He called for justice and respect for everyone, stating that the fear from women's hearts should be eradicated as soon as possible.

The Congress leader cited statistics to illustrate the impact of violence, disrespect, and control over women. He noted that every six out of 100 women are raped in India, and 50% of women reject jobs due to safety concerns. Financial violence, such as spending ₹17,500 annually for a woman's safety, also contributes to the control over women.

Additionally, Gandhi claimed that 60% of girls cannot go out alone, 45% drop out of school due to household responsibilities or marriage, and only 8% of women in India own property independently. Fear of disrespect was another form of control, with 99% of sexual violence cases going unreported due to shame.

He also addressed how time is weaponized against women, who face additional pressures from a young age, limiting their opportunities. Gandhi emphasized that the Manusmriti has returned, and girls should not have to bear an additional burden. He invited tribal girls to join him at the ongoing protest in Pune over tribal issues.