PUNE: Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, addressed students at the 'Chatron Ki Gunj' event in Pune on Saturday, emphasising that women represent India's greatest asset while launching a sharp critique against the ideology of the Manusmriti.

Speaking under the event's central theme 'Pinjra Toda' (Break the Cage), the Leader of Opposition said that women are bound to no one but themselves and reject patriarchal claims over them.

"I have not come here today to speak on politics," Rahul Gandhi said while interacting with Gen-Z students.

"When asked about India's main strength, people point to the economy, the military, healthcare, or overall population. But my position is crystal clear: India's 70 crore women are the nation's greatest power."

Rahul Gandhi made a strong pitch for women's empowerment, urging young women to break free from societal restrictions and assert their independent identity.

He highlighted women as the nation's greatest foundation while sharply criticising traditional constraints imposed on them.

Rahul Gandhi declared that the true strength of the country lies in its female population.

"I am often asked about India's greatest strength, and while people give various answers, my view is clear that the 70 crore women of India are the nation's biggest strength and asset," he said, refraining from discussing mainstream political topics.

He highlighted that women naturally possess immense empathy, sensitivity, and strength, making them indispensable to the nation's progress.

Expressing strong disapproval of traditional frameworks, the Leader of Opposition criticised the Manusmriti for confining women to restrictive roles.

He noted that 'Manusmriti' (the ancient text) suggests a woman must live for her father in childhood, her husband in youth, and her sons in old age, adding that the notion that women should never be independent is unacceptable and shameful.

He urged women to rise above being defined solely by traditional roles such as daughter, wife, or mother.

While acknowledging these roles are important, Rahul Gandhi asserted, "You are not dependent on anyone. Your relationships do not define your core identity—you have an individual identity of your own."

He expressed concern over societal constraints and educational discrimination faced by young women despite their notable achievements across diverse fields.

He said that the underlying design of the Manusmriti aimed to prevent women from ever achieving independence or self-reliance, subjecting them to external control.

During the event, a student named Nisha brought forth the critical grievances and plight of tribal students before him.

The student informed Rahul Gandhi that tribal students have been on a hunger strike in Pune's Manjari, and handed over a formal memorandum detailing their demands.

Addressing the gathering, the student said, "This story isn't just about one Nisha—it represents all tribal students, the entire nation, and Maharashtra, which is why I am presenting it in Marathi."

Pointing out the critical condition of her protesting peers, Nisha mentioned that two female students and male students are on the hunger strike, with one female student having to be hospitalised due to deteriorating health.

She said that when their representatives visited the Mantralaya, the Tribal Development Minister expressed helplessness, claiming the matter rested solely in the hands of the Chief Minister.

She strongly asserted that if Ministers cannot deliver development for tribal students, they have no moral right to hold office.

Nisha highlighted that central kitchens established in tribal schools prepare food at one location and transport it 70 to 80 km away. This leads to food spoilage and incidents of food poisoning among students.

She pointed out that tribal ashram schools lack basic facilities such as beds and drinking water.

Due to these poor conditions, three students recently died from snakebites (Bungarus/Krait species) in Gadchiroli, while three others are undergoing treatment in hospitals.

She demanded that the state government provide at least Rs 1 crore in compensation to the deceased students' families.

Tribal hostels in Pune are located in far-off suburbs like Manjari and Kondhwa rather than central areas, forcing students to waste nearly four hours daily in transit, leaving little time for studies.

She noted that students have been fasting for the past ten days to highlight these demands.

She raised concerns about students residing in tribal hostels, specifically mentioning female students from Gadchiroli who return home during Diwali and are subjected to mandatory pregnancy tests upon returning a month later.

When Rahul Gandhi asked why she hadn't invited him to the protest site, Nisha extended a direct invitation.

Accepting the invite, the Congress leader assured her, "Invite me to the protest site, and I will come. My presence will build pressure on the administration."

Expressing his gratitude to Pune for the warm welcome, Rahul Gandhi noted that women independently own only eight per cent of property in India and said that the dreams and journeys of the nation's 70 crore women represent the true pride and wealth of the country.

Several other female students also shared their views during the event.

The Pune interaction was the fourth edition of the 'Chatron Ki Gunj' initiative, organised against the backdrop of recent youth protests in Delhi.

Large crowds of students from across Maharashtra assembled in Pune for the event, accompanied by senior state Congress leadership.

Alongside his interaction with students, Rahul Gandhi also met with state party leaders in Pune to review organisational strategies and encourage party cadres.

The 'Chatron Ki Gunj' event, which had seen extensive preparations by the Congress over recent days, was attended by several senior party leaders.

Local authorities deployed heavy security around the venue following clashes between members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) in Pune a day before the program, ensuring the event concluded without further disruption.