How many women are there in RSS, asks Rahul Gandhi

GANDHINAGAR: Congress vicepresident Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday seemed to suggest that RSS discriminated against women, but his poser whether any woman was ever seen in its ‘shakas’ (assembly) wearing shorts sparked a controversy, with BJP condemning it.

Accusing RSS of discriminating against women, the Congress vicepresident said: “Have you ever seen a woman in shorts attending a shakha? I haven’t.” He added one could see women at every level in the Congress party.

Reacting to the comment, Union information and broadcasting minister Smriti Irani said: “If Rahulji believes wearing shorts in India is a sign of empowerment, as a woman, I want to contradict it. Today, an indecent comment has been made against our sisters connected with the Sangh, the Rashtriya Sevika Sangh or sisters, wives and sisters-in-law of ordinary Sangh workers.” Former Gujarat chief minister Anandi Patel reacted by claiming Gandhi insulted women of Gujarat and demanded his apology.


On the se cond day of his Gujarat visit, Rahul Gandhi questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence on allegations against BJP president Amit Shah’s son Jay.

Buoyed by crowd responses received on Monday, Gandhi travelled from Vadodara to Chhota Udaipur on Tuesday, reaching out to students, anganwadi workers and those displaced by the Narmada dam.