Rahul Gandhi Backs Nationwide Protests for Women’s Safety, Urges Gen Z to Join

New Delhi, Sep 29 : Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday voiced support for protests by students and young people demanding greater safety for women, urging more young women, particularly members of Gen Z, to join demonstrations across the country.

In a message posted on his WhatsApp channel, Gandhi said women were increasingly living in fear of harassment and sexual violence and argued that the responsibility for ensuring their safety should not be placed on women.

“Stop punishing women for the crimes committed against them,” Gandhi said, questioning suggestions that women should restrict their movements because of the threat of harassment and sexual violence.

He described such an approach as “patriarchy at work” and alleged that it placed blame on victims while failing to adequately hold perpetrators accountable.

“The solution is not to lock women inside. It is to make our streets safe, to confront the mindset of men who mistreat women, and to punish those who attack them, swiftly and without exception,” he said.

Gandhi said thousands of students and young people had taken to the streets to demand safer public spaces for women. He appealed to more young women, particularly those from Gen Z, to participate in the demonstrations.

“Thousands of students and young people are on the streets demanding safety for women. I urge even more young women, especially Gen Z across India to come out in stronger numbers,” he said.

He also criticised the government over what he described as a lack of response to the concerns raised by women and young protesters, saying public pressure was necessary to draw attention to their demands.

Gandhi expressed solidarity with those taking part in the demonstrations and stressed that peaceful protest is a democratic right.

His remarks come amid renewed public debate over women’s safety, sexual harassment and their right to access public spaces without fear. The issue has repeatedly prompted protests and calls for stronger law enforcement, accountability and preventive measures against violence against women.

The Congress leader’s comments have also renewed discussion over whether women should be expected to restrict their movements to avoid harassment, or whether authorities should focus on ensuring that public spaces are safe and accessible to all.