Rahul Gandhi Slams Centre Over Taliban’s 'Men-Only' Press Meet, BJP Calls Out Hypocrisy

Last Updated:October 11, 2025, 16:06 IST

BJP, Congress clash over exclusion of female journalists at Amir Khan Muttaqi's Delhi press meet, raising debate on women's rights and government stance.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and PM Modi. (File)

A political slugfest broke out between the BJP and the Congress over the controversy regarding the absence of female journalists from a press conference held by Taliban-controlled Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in New Delhi.

BJP leaders Amit Mavliya and Pradeep Bhandari hit out at Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and accused them of hypocrisy on women’s rights and national sovereignty after the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition accused the Centre of allowing the discrimination of women journalists who weren’t allowed to attend the press meet.

Congress Attacks Centre

Commenting on the row, the Congress leader said that by allowing "exclusion" of women scribes from a public forum, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is telling every woman in India that he is "too weak to stand up for them".

He also said PM Modi’s silence in the face of such discrimination exposes the "emptiness" of his slogans on Nari Shakti.

“Mr. Modi, when you allow the exclusion of women journalists from a public forum, you are telling every woman in India that you are too weak to stand up for them." "In our country, women have the right to equal participation in every space. Your silence in the face of such discrimination exposes the emptiness of your slogans on Nari Shakti," he said in a post on X.

Her sister and Lok Sabha MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also raised concern over the issue, asking the Prime Minister to clarify the government’s position.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, please clarify your position on the removal of female journalists from the press conference of the representative of the Taliban on his visit to India," she said in a post on X.

Priyanka added, “If your recognition of women’s rights isn’t just convenient posturing from one election to the other, then how has this insult to some of India’s most competent women been allowed in our country, a country whose women are its backbone and its pride."

BJP Slams Congress’ Hypocrisy 

The saffron party responded sharply to the opposition party’s criticism of the Taliban press conference, denying the allegations and linking him to Pakistan.

BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari called Congress the “best friend of Pakistan", and said, “Yet again Rahul Gandhi is batting for Pakistan by spreading fake news!"

He also fact-checked the Lok Sabha LoP, noting, “Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961 Article 22 declares embassy land as ‘inviolable’ and belonging to the embassy."

BJP leader Amit Malviya also called out Congress’s hypocrisy over women’s rights while referring the controversial overturning of the Supreme Court’s Shah Bano judgment in 1986 by the then Rajiv Gandhi-led Congress government.

“It’s ironic to see Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra sermonize about women’s rights. Perhaps they should first revisit their father Rajiv Gandhi’s legacy — the same Prime Minister who overturned the Supreme Court’s Shah Bano judgment, denying an elderly Muslim woman her rightful, meagre alimony under pressure from radical clerics," he said in a post on X.

What’s The Row?

The absence of women in Friday’s Amir Khan Muttaqi’s press interaction in New Delhi sparked a debate and female journalists and a section of opposition party’s politicians were quick to point out the Taliban’s history of attacks on women’s rights.

Muttaqi held the interaction at the Afghan embassy in New Delhi, hours after holding wide-ranging talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

It is learnt that the decision on inviting journalists to the media interaction was taken by Taliban officials accompanying the foreign minister.

People familiar with the matter said the Indian side suggested to the Afghan side that women journalists should be part of the invitees for the event.

The Taliban regime in Kabul has faced severe criticism from various countries as well as global bodies like the United Nations for restricting the rights of women in Afghanistan.

Centre’s Stand

Meanwhile, the External Affairs Ministry on Saturday highlighted that it had “no role or involvement" on the admission of women to Muttaqi’s press meet in New Delhi.

(With inputs from agencies)

Shobhit Gupta

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben...Read More

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben...

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News politics Rahul Gandhi Slams Centre Over Taliban’s 'Men-Only' Press Meet, BJP Calls Out Hypocrisy

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