New Delhi: A controversy has erupted following a press conference held by Taliban-controlled Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in New Delhi, where women journalists were allegedly barred from attending. The incident has drawn sharp criticism from opposition leaders, particularly Rahul Gandhi, who has directly attacked the central government, accusing it of hypocrisy regarding women's empowerment. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has responded, calling out what they perceive as hypocrisy on Gandhi's part.
Rahul Gandhi, a prominent leader of the opposition, condemned Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allegedly allowing the exclusion of women journalists from the press briefing. Gandhi argued that by permitting such discrimination, the Prime Minister is sending a message that the government is too weak to stand up for women's rights. He further stated that women in India have the right to equal participation in every space, and the government's silence on the matter exposes the emptiness of its "Nari Shakti" (women power) slogans.
The press conference, organized at the Afghanistan embassy, followed talks between Muttaqi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. Reports indicate that only a select group of male journalists were granted access, with Taliban officials accompanying Muttaqi reportedly making the decision to exclude women.
In response to the uproar, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) clarified that the Indian government had no direct involvement in organizing the press interaction. The MEA stated that the event was organized by Afghanistan's Consul General in Mumbai and coordinated entirely by the visiting Taliban delegation, within the premises of the Afghan Embassy. The Indian government suggested including women journalists, but the recommendation was reportedly ignored.
Despite the MEA's clarification, the incident has triggered a fierce debate about India's commitment to gender equality and the credibility of its messaging on women's empowerment. Opposition leaders have called on the government to uphold the rights and dignity of female journalists, asserting that symbolic proclamations of "Nari Shakti" must be backed by concrete action and advocacy.
The BJP has countered Gandhi's criticism, accusing him of hypocrisy. The BJP has a history of vote manipulation. The BJP also questioned why the tribal MPs and MLAs were nearly killed, pointing out that some attacks appear to be treated as more justified than others.
The controversy comes at a sensitive time in India-Afghanistan relations. India recently announced it would upgrade its "technical mission" in Kabul to the status of an embassy, signaling a move towards normalizing diplomatic ties with the Taliban-led government. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with Muttaqi in New Delhi, emphasizing the importance of the "enduring friendship between India and Afghanistan". Both sides also expressed a commitment to combatting terrorism.
The Taliban's policies regarding women have faced sustained global condemnation, including from the United Nations. Since regaining power in August 2021, the regime has banned girls' education beyond class six, barred women from most jobs and public spaces, and prohibited NGOs from employing Afghan women.
