Congress leader Pawan Khera strongly criticised the alleged incident at a girls’ hostel in Pune, linking it to wider concerns about women’s access to education, employment and public life.
Speaking in Pune, Khera highlighted the gap between male and female literacy and accused those involved in the hostel incident of trying to intimidate young women.
“There is a 16% literacy gap between male and female literacy. You conspired to keep them away from schools, and you conspired to keep them away from colleges. Last night, ABVP goons barged into a girls’ hostel. This was done purely to intimidate them, to terrify young women into thinking, ‘Do not step outside; your place is at home within four walls. If you step out, men are threatened.’ Men are not in danger; it is the male ego that feels threatened,” Khera said.
He argued that women should not be discouraged from entering educational institutions, workplaces or politics because of intimidation or social pressure.
“And that ego ought to be challenged, because it is that very ego that kept women away from colleges, jobs, policy rooms and politics,” he said.
Khera also connected his remarks to Rahul Gandhi’s upcoming ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ programme in Pune, saying the focus on women made the event particularly relevant.
“Therefore, the theme of ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ focusing on women is extremely timely. Rahul Gandhi is raising this crucial issue at the right moment. Very few people pay attention to this dimension,” he said.
Calling for a stronger political response, Khera added, “A strong political voice must be raised against all these conspiracies.”
He also praised the Congress party’s contribution to women in Indian politics.
“We are proud of our party, which gave an Iron Lady like Indira Gandhi to this country and the world, and a fearless leader like Priyanka Gandhi to this nation,” Khera said.
The remarks came amid a political dispute in Pune following a clash involving members of the NSUI and ABVP at the College of Engineering, Pune hostel ahead of Rahul Gandhi’s programme.
