Rahul Gandhi, the Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, supports Gen Z-led protests over women’s safety and has expressed doubts about the idea that women should be asked to stay home to protect themselves from violence.
His comments come as Delhi saw student-led protests in response to the gang rape of a 17-year-old girl. On Monday, hundreds of Delhi University students, including women and LGBTQI students, marched in protest to demand safer public places and stronger action against crimes against women.
Gandhi has argued that restricting women’s freedom cannot help them in solving violence against them. Women should not be forced to give up their mobility, education, work or independence for crimes committed by others, he believes.
The Congress leader has also raised similar concerns in his interactions with young people under the ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ programme. At a women-focused event in Pune in August, he spoke out on patriarchy, restrictions on women and the need for young women to speak openly about their rights.
Gandhi talked about how social restrictions affect women’s everyday lives during the interaction. He mentioned curfews, education and employment restrictions as well as additional costs women might face when safety concerns limit their freedom.
Stop punishing women for the crimes committed against them.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 29, 2026
Across our country, women are afraid to walk the streets, afraid of being harassed, afraid of being raped. And the government’s answer: stay at home.
This is patriarchy at work: a system that blames the victim and… pic.twitter.com/f3lgqB3wQs
The remarks come as student groups have taken women’s safety into a greater stance as the public. Protesters in Delhi have raised concerns about poorly lit streets, unsafe public areas, restrictions placed on women and the fear many experience when travelling alone.
Demonstrators have called for practical measures to improve safety, such as improved street lighting, safer public infrastructure and greater accountability from authorities.
Gandhi has also used student interactions to highlight challenges faced by young women pursuing education. During an interaction in Indore, he spoke about women’s poverty and lack of affordable hostel facilities in the city and the financial hardships they face when they arrive in other cities for studies.
His engagement with Gen Z is part of a much broader political debate about women’s freedom and safety. His comments have been described as supporting young women who are demanding greater freedom; his political opponents have attacked his political views.
A separate fact check by BOOM recently looked at an edited video circulating online that appeared to suggest Gandhi was making controversial comments about restricting women. The viral clip had removed the context in which Gandhi was making comments about the world before, the fact-check said.
As student protests continue, women’s safety, freedom and access to public spaces are among these issues that young demonstrators are worrying about.
Gandhi’s comments have contributed to a political dimension to this debate and the Congress leader has proposed a strategy of not making women’s freedom less secure but more secure.
