Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has tried to appeal to the women voters in the country by talking about patriarchy and women’s autonomy. However, his remarks ring hollow because they come days after the Congress party drama over comments involving Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. At that time, the Congress scion Gandhi was seen laughing over a joke made by Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit about the Italian Prime Minister.
At a recent event in Pune, Maharashtra, Rahul Gandhi attacked what he described as a patriarchal mindset, arguing that women should have complete control over their own lives. He also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his reaction to women using abusive language during protests, saying that there appeared to be a different standard for men and women. Gandhi stressed that a woman belongs to nobody except herself.
On the face of it, the message is difficult to disagree with, Women should not be reduced to someone’s daughter, wife, mother or political prop. Public figures should be judged by the same standards irrespective of gender. However, Rahul Gandhi mocking the female Italian Prime Minister just a few days back makes one wonder if he really believes in fighting patriarchal attitudes towards women politicians.
That is precisely why the earlier Meloni controversy has become politically awkward for Gandhi.
Rahul Gandhi and Sandeep Dixit’s cheap stunt was serious enough for the Ministry of External Affairs to urge everyone to remain mindful of India’s strong relations with Italy and to maintain mutual respect.
Gandhi himself may not have made the controversial joke, and that distinction matters. But critics argue that his decision to laugh rather than object becomes relevant when he subsequently presents himself as a champion of women’s dignity and an opponent of patriarchal attitudes.
This is where the issue of political consistency comes in. If sexist or demeaning humour involving a woman is unacceptable, the principle should apply regardless of whether the woman is an Indian political leader, a foreign head of government or someone on the opposite side of the political spectrum.
The larger lesson is simple, gender equality cannot be a selective political weapon. If women deserve dignity, autonomy and respect, those principles should apply even when a joke happens to benefit one’s own political narrative.
