By Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has criticised Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on Manusmriti, accusing him of presenting what he described as an inaccurate picture of Indian traditions and culture.
Speaking at a public meeting in Raebareli after launching development projects worth several crores, Adityanath said political debate should not be based on what he called “wrong facts”. He also alleged that Gandhi’s comments could influence young women and daughters by portraying Indian traditions without their wider historical context.
Adityanath said that Indian society has followed different traditions over centuries and that not every practice mentioned in ancient texts necessarily remains part of contemporary social life. However, he questioned the criticism of Manusmriti, arguing that references to the text can also be found in several ancient Hindu works, including the Matsya Purana and the Mahabharata.
Yogi questions Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of Manusmriti
Taking a direct swipe at Gandhi, the chief minister accused him of “inciting” women through his remarks.
Adityanath said that traditions should be discussed in their proper historical and cultural context rather than being presented selectively. He argued that some concepts associated with ancient Indian texts continue to have relevance in areas such as traditional timekeeping and the Hindu calendar.
According to the chief minister, the system of calculating periods such as muhurta, months and years forms part of the broader Indian tradition of timekeeping. He also linked the calculation of religious festivals to traditional systems that have evolved over centuries.
What Rahul Gandhi said
Gandhi reportedly made the remarks while interacting with girl students during his Chatron Ki Goonj programme in Pune.
During the interaction, he referred to the social position of women described in Manusmriti and said the text placed women under the authority of their fathers, husbands and sons.
The remarks subsequently drew a political response from Adityanath, who questioned the manner in which Gandhi had presented the ancient text.
Political debate over tradition and social reform
The exchange has brought the debate over Manusmriti, women’s rights and the interpretation of ancient Indian texts back into the political spotlight. While Gandhi’s remarks focused on the text’s prescriptions concerning women, Adityanath’s response centred on its wider place in Indian religious and cultural traditions.
The confrontation also comes during a politically significant period in Uttar Pradesh, with both the BJP and opposition parties increasingly using issues of social identity, history and cultural traditions in their public messaging.
