New Delhi, May 23 – Congress leader Rahul Gandhi asserted on Thursday that the BJP believes women should be treated as “second-class citizens” and criticized the RSS, BJP’s ideological parent, for not allowing women in its ‘shakhas’.
At an all-women poll meeting in Mangolpuri, supporting Congress’ North West Delhi Lok Sabha candidate Udit Raj, Gandhi highlighted that despite the BJP’s passage of the women’s reservation bill with much fanfare, it postponed its implementation for 10 years.
Gandhi also took a metro ride on the last day of campaigning for the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha elections, interacting with commuters and sharing his experience on X. “Met fellow passengers and enquired about their well-being — I am happy to see that our initiative of building metro in Delhi has proved so convenient for public transportation,” he posted in Hindi.
Addressing the crowd, Gandhi pointed out the unrecognized efforts of working women at home. “Working women have to do a second shift of chores after getting home and their efforts go unnoticed. If men work for eight hours, you (women) work for 16 hours with no compensation,” he said.
Gandhi reiterated the Congress party’s promise to introduce the Mahalaxmi Yojana if voted to power, which would provide Rs 8,500 per month and Rs 1 lakh annually to women from families living below the poverty line.
Targeting the BJP’s women’s reservation law, Gandhi said, “They passed the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam in Parliament with much pomp and show to give reservation to women (in Lok Sabha and legislative assemblies). But later, they said we will implement this after 10 years once the survey (census) is completed.”
“There is an ideology behind this. The RSS does not enroll women, and women cannot enter their ‘shakhas’. This belief is deeply ingrained in their minds that women should be treated as second-class citizens,” he alleged.
Gandhi also promised to increase women’s reservation in all government jobs if Congress is voted to power.
In another poll meeting in Dilshad Garden, northeast Delhi, supporting Congress candidate Kanhaiya Kumar, Gandhi accused the BJP of wanting to “tear and throw away” the Constitution. “They never accepted the Indian Constitution or the Indian flag. In this election, they have finally accepted that they want to change it,” he claimed.
“This election is a fight for safeguarding the Indian Constitution. It is not simply a book; our Constitution carries thousands of years of ideological heritage of Gandhi, Ambedkar, and Nehru ji,” he said. He warned the BJP that they would face opposition from Congress and millions of Indians if they tried to change the Constitution.
Gandhi’s remarks followed the Election Commission’s directive to the Congress to ensure that its star campaigners and candidates do not make statements suggesting the Constitution may be abolished or sold.
Thursday marked the end of campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections in Delhi, with all seven parliamentary constituencies set to vote on May 25. Votes for all seven phases of the elections will be counted on June 4.
