Actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut has taken a fresh dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his “smash the patriarchy” remark, amid the ongoing controversy surrounding Kriti Sanon’s Raksha Bandhan advertisement.
Kangana Ranaut reshared a social media post from the BJP that questioned the Congress party’s record on several women-related issues. Responding to Rahul Gandhi’s recent messaging on women’s freedom and patriarchy, Ranaut wrote, “Bro, wait. Bharat Mata ki Jay. Shuru karte hain.”
The exchange comes amid a wider social media debate involving Rahul Gandhi, Kangana Ranaut and actor Kriti Sanon over women’s clothing, cultural traditions and freedom of choice.
Kangana Ranaut Backs BJP Post Targeting Rahul Gandhi
The BJP’s social media post featured a series of illustrated conversations responding to Gandhi’s call to “smash the patriarchy.”
One illustration showed Rahul Gandhi saying, “Smash the Patriarchy!”, followed by a woman responding, “Bro, wait. Bharat Mata ki Jay. Shuru karte hain.”
The subsequent panels raised issues including triple talaq, the Women’s Reservation Bill, the Shah Bano case and women’s representation in the Karnataka Cabinet.
One panel questioned the Congress’s earlier position on the Women’s Reservation Bill, while another referred to the Shah Bano case.
The final illustration highlighted the absence of women in the Karnataka Cabinet, with the post claiming that none of the 33 ministers were women.
Kangana Ranaut’s repost amplified the BJP’s criticism of Rahul Gandhi and Congress, turning the ongoing debate over “smash the patriarchy” into a broader political exchange.
Rahul Gandhi Defended Kriti Sanon
The latest exchange began after Rahul Gandhi defended Kriti Sanon amid criticism over her outfit in a Raksha Bandhan advertisement.
In an Instagram Story, Gandhi said that a woman’s clothing, actions and choices should remain her own.
“What a woman wears, what she does and where she goes is her choice,” Gandhi said.
He also urged people to stop trolling women for exercising their freedom and used the phrase “smash the patriarchy.”
The advertisement had sparked debate after Kriti Sanon appeared in an Indo-Western outfit while tying Rakhi to her brother and pet dog.
The campaign triggered mixed reactions online, with some users defending Sanon’s freedom of choice while others questioned whether the outfit was appropriate for the traditional festival.
Kangana Ranaut Earlier Criticised Kriti Sanon’s Outfit
Before Rahul Gandhi entered the debate, Kangana Ranaut had criticised Sanon’s outfit in the advertisement.
Ranaut questioned why the actor chose what she described as a bikini or undergarment-style outfit for a Raksha Bandhan-themed campaign.
She argued that women today have access to a wide variety of clothing choices, ranging from traditional Indian attire to Western fashion, and questioned the styling decision made for the advertisement.
Kriti Sanon later responded, saying that culture and traditions should not be judged based on a woman’s clothing.
She argued that a woman’s respect for culture lies in her values and actions rather than her neckline or outfit.
Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Smash Patriarchy’ Remarks
The controversy also follows Rahul Gandhi’s recent comments on patriarchy and women’s rights during his “Chhatron Ki Goonj” outreach programme.
Speaking with female students, Gandhi criticised what he described as a “Manusmriti mindset” and urged young women to challenge patriarchal thinking.
He argued that women should not be viewed as belonging to their fathers, husbands or sons and should have the freedom to make their own choices.
His remarks have since triggered political reactions, with Kangana Ranaut and the BJP using the controversy to question the Congress party’s historical record on women-related issues.
The debate has now expanded beyond the original Raksha Bandhan advertisement, bringing together questions of women’s freedom, cultural traditions, political ideology and the Congress party’s record on women’s representation and rights.
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