Priyanka Gandhi slams Modi over exclusion of women journalists from Taliban minister’s press meet
New Delhi : Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has strongly criticized the Union government after women journalists were reportedly barred from attending the press conference of Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, who is visiting India.
Taking to social media platform X, Priyanka questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence over the incident, calling it an insult to Indian women. “Prime Minister Modi, please clarify your stand on why women were excluded from the Taliban representative’s press meet held in New Delhi. This is a grave disrespect to women in a country where they are the pride and backbone of society,” she wrote.
She further accused the government of hypocrisy, saying, “Women’s rights may not help you during elections, but that doesn’t mean you can stay silent when such humiliation occurs.”
Muttaqi, who held a detailed discussion with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar at the Afghan Embassy in New Delhi on Friday, later addressed a restricted press conference. Reports confirmed that only a limited number of journalists were invited and that no women were allowed entry.
According to sources, India had suggested that women journalists be included among the invitees, but Taliban officials, along with the Afghan foreign minister, allegedly made the final decision on attendance.
The incident has triggered widespread outrage, with opposition leaders and women’s groups accusing the Modi government of compromising on India’s democratic and gender equality values to accommodate Taliban sensitivities.
