Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has called for stronger action to ensure women’s safety. He urged young people, particularly Gen Z, to participate in peaceful protests against harassment and sexual violence.
In a post on X and a video message, Gandhi said women should not be restricted from going out because of crimes committed against them. He argued the focus should instead be on making public spaces safer, changing attitudes towards women and taking strict action against those accused of crimes.
Gandhi said the system should stop blaming victims and instead hold perpetrators accountable. He also criticised the idea of asking women to stay at home or avoid public places after incidents of sexual violence.
Referring to a reported rape of a 16-year-old girl near a park in South Delhi, Gandhi questioned the response of restricting women from visiting parks at night. He said such restrictions place the burden on women instead of addressing the actions of the accused.
Gandhi also referred to reports of sexual violence from states including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. preventing women from accessing public spaces was not the right response to such crimes. In his appeal to young people, Gandhi said governments respond to public pressure and urged more students and young women to join peaceful demonstrations demanding better safety measures.
Gandhi concluded by expressing his support for people protesting against harassment and sexual violence, while stressing that peaceful protest is a democratic right.