Sanjay Raut Defends Rahul Gandhi Against BJP Criticism

The escalation follows a post by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on X, where he challenged the Congress party’s "smash patriarchy" slogan. Rijiju questioned why the party focuses its critique on Hindu traditions while remaining silent on issues affecting minority women, such as Triple Talaq. He framed the Congress narrative as a divisive tactic that ignores the achievements of Indian women in fields ranging from space exploration to sports.

Sanjay Raut rejected this framing, asserting that Rahul Gandhi has never targeted Hinduism or any specific religion. He argued that the government’s focus on these comments stems from a fundamental fear of Gandhi’s growing influence. "Rijiju is not a big enough leader to make such comments," Raut stated, adding that Gandhi’s political reach is now beyond the BJP’s ability to manage.

Beyond the ideological clash, the exchange highlights a practical dispute over state governance in Maharashtra. Raut defended Gandhi’s recent letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis regarding the plight of tribal students in Pune. According to Raut, these students have spent nearly 20 days on a hunger strike protesting poor hostel conditions and substandard food. He alleged that the contractors responsible for these facilities maintain ties to the BJP, accusing the state government of negligence. Gandhi’s intervention, which emerged from the 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' event, forced national attention onto a crisis that the local administration had largely ignored.