Gandhi calls for youth-led protests against patriarchal system, victim-blaming

Congress politician Rahul Gandhi has called on India's youth to stage protests against systemic gender-based violence and government inaction on women's safety, asserting that authorities respond only when pressured by public demonstrations.

Addressing women's security concerns, Gandhi criticized what he characterized as victim-blaming policies. "Stop punishing women for the crimes committed against them," he stated, highlighting widespread fear among women across the country regarding street harassment and sexual violence.

Gandhi contended that the government's response to these issues has been inadequate, essentially advising women to remain indoors rather than addressing root causes. He described this approach as emblematic of a patriarchal system that shifts responsibility from perpetrators to victims.

The Congress leader called for dismantling what he termed this victim-blaming framework, framing the issue as a broader structural problem requiring systemic change. His remarks underscore ongoing debates within Indian politics about women's safety, government accountability, and the role of public activism in prompting policy responses.