Congress scion Rahul Gandhi, very recently renewed his image as a women’s rights/women empowerment champion, urging women to challenge social restrictions and “smash the patriarchy.”
But a series of recent incidents involving women linked to the Congress, Congress workers and Congress-ruled governments raises questions over the gap between that rhetoric and Rahul Gandhi’s response, rather the lack of it, when controversies involve his own political ecosystem.
At the recent Chhatron ki Goonj event in Pune in August 2026, Gandhi delivered an emphatic message to women.
“Patriarchy crushes you, frightens you, controls you. We must work together to dismantle this patriarchy. Smash the patriarchy. My message to you, a simple message: be loud, be proud and fight for your space in society,” he said.
𝑺𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒉𝒚 pic.twitter.com/A9QmzcM52Q
— Congress (@INCIndia) August 23, 2026
He also argued that women should not be defined only through their relationships with men and said they belonged to nobody except themselves.
Yet, when women have faced harassment, physical assault, political sidelining or police action involving Congress leaders, workers or governments, Gandhi has largely remained publicly silent, as confirmed by the instances cited below.
Udhayanidhi Stalin’s Remarks on Trisha
In August 2026, DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin triggered controversy during a party protest over the Cauvery water issue.
While criticising Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, Udhayanidhi made a remark that was widely interpreted as having a double meaning involving actor Trisha. As he spoke, sections of the gathering reportedly began chanting “Trisha, Trisha”. Udhayanidhi smiled before saying that he was referring to Cauvery water.
The video subsequently went viral, with him being accused of making a derogatory reference to the actor.
Rahul Gandhi has maintained a political association with the DMK, an INDI bloc ally for decades. His party is now a part of the ruling government in TN. Yet, there was no reported public condemnation from Gandhi over the controversy involving Trisha.
Konda Surekha and the Telangana Congress Government
Another controversy emerged in Telangana involving Congress minister Konda Surekha.
Surekha was removed from the state Cabinet after her daughter publicly criticised Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy. Surekha had argued that her daughter was an independent adult and that she could not be held responsible for her daughter’s political views.
Rahul Gandhi loves lecturing women about having an identity of their own. His party’s actions tell a very different story.
In Telangana, Minister Konda Surekha was removed from the Cabinet after her daughter publicly criticised CM Revanth Reddy. The Congress disciplinary… pic.twitter.com/yDkSrMYeeT
— BJYM (@BJYM) September 4, 2026
The development came after Surekha had reportedly complained to Rahul Gandhi and senior Congress leaders that she was being politically and administratively sidelined.
According to the account cited in the controversy, she was removed from the Cabinet 11 days after raising those concerns.
The episode involved a woman Congress leader who had herself complained of political sidelining.
There was, however, no public intervention by Rahul Gandhi defending Surekha or publicly questioning her removal.
Rajasthan Youth Congress Leader’s Allegation
A Youth Congress leader from Rajasthan also alleged that a Congress MLA, Rafiq Khan, sought personal favours from her after she applied for a party ticket in local body elections.
In a video, she reportedly alleged that Khan questioned why she should be given a ticket and asked what she had done for him “personally”.
This raised questions about the treatment of women seeking political opportunities within the party.
Again, there was no public statement or condemnation from Rahul Gandhi addressing the allegation or demanding an explanation from the party leadership.
JNU Sexual Harassment Allegations
The latest controversy concerns Jawaharlal Nehru University, where more than 10 students have complained against a professor over allegations ranging from sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct to alleged misuse of academic authority.
The matter is being examined by JNU’s Internal Complaints Committee.
Students have alleged sexually suggestive remarks, inappropriate behaviour and, in some cases, that academic benefits such as marks were linked to responding positively to alleged advances.
The professor has denied the allegations and described them as false and baseless.
Ha ha…Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, Congress MP from Manipur!!! pic.twitter.com/875Ijxl17G
— JH (@jagdish_2204) September 7, 2026
Netizens identified the professor as Congress MP from Manipur Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, though JNU has not publicly disclosed the professor’s identity in its statements on the inquiry.
The inquiry remains ongoing.
Once again, Rahul Gandhi has not publicly been seen taking up the issue or commenting on the allegations in the manner he routinely speaks about women’s safety and patriarchy.
Congress Workers Allegedly Manhandle Remya Haridas
Just days ago, another Congress-linked controversy involved Remya Haridas, a Congress MLA and former Lok Sabha MP from Kerala.
Haridas was reportedly injured and hospitalised following a physical altercation involving local Youth Congress workers in Thiruvananthapuram.
She subsequently filed a police complaint invoking the SC/ST Act, alleging that Congress workers twisted her arm and threatened her in connection with rivalries surrounding a local cooperative bank election.
The allegation involved a sitting woman Congress legislator allegedly being assaulted by members of her own party.
Yet there was no reported public intervention from Rahul Gandhi condemning the alleged attack or demanding accountability.
FIR Against Journalist Aparna Kurup In Congress-Ruled Kerala
In another controversy from Congress-ruled Kerala, journalist Aparna Kurup was booked by the Kerala Police over remarks she made during a television debate concerning statements by Sunni cleric Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar on women appearing in public.
Kurup had criticised the cleric’s reported position that women should remain confined to their homes.
The police case invoked provisions relating to allegedly provoking a breach of peace, hurting religious sentiments and promoting enmity between groups.
Kurup later apologised for remarks that she said should have been avoided.
She also reportedly faced threats following the controversy.
The Kerala government subsequently faced criticism after police action against an office-bearer of the Wisdom Islamic Organisation was withdrawn following political pressure.
But Rahul Gandhi did not publicly emerge as a prominent voice defending Kurup’s right to question a religious leader or criticising the police action against her.
Preach Smash Patriarchy, Practice Silence
Rahul Gandhi tells women to “smash the patriarchy” and “be loud, be proud and fight for your space.” Yet when women, some from his own party, faced harassment, assault or political pressure within the Congress ecosystem, his voice goes missing.
During all the controversies listed above, Rahul Gandhi has remained silent. His message to women is to speak up but that support seems to disappear when the uncomfortable questions involve his own political camp.
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