Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday voiced support for student-led protests over women’s safety, calling for safer public spaces and urging young women, particularly those from Gen Z, to participate more actively.
In a post on X, Gandhi said women should not face restrictions on their freedom because of crimes committed against them. He argued that the focus should instead be on preventing offences, improving safety in public places and taking swift action against those accused of crimes against women.
“Stop punishing women for the crimes committed against them,” Gandhi said, adding that women across the country should not have to fear harassment or sexual violence while using public spaces.
He said measures such as asking women to stay indoors amounted to shifting responsibility from perpetrators to victims. Gandhi called for greater accountability and said authorities must address the attitudes and circumstances that enable crimes against women.
His remarks came amid protests by Delhi University students following the alleged gangrape of a 17-year-old girl at Aastha Kunj Park in south Delhi earlier this month.
On September 23, around 200 students from Delhi University and affiliated institutions, including Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Miranda House, Gargi College and Dr BR Ambedkar University, participated in a demonstration seeking stronger measures for women’s safety around educational institutions.
The protests continued in the following days, with hundreds of women students marching near Delhi University’s South Campus on September 25. Demonstrators raised concerns over sexual harassment, inadequate surveillance and policing, poorly lit stretches and difficulties in accessing emergency assistance.
Students of Lady Shri Ram College have also flagged concerns over non-operational Pink Booths and inadequate police presence in areas surrounding the campus.
The issue received further attention after Delhi Police registered an FIR following a complaint by two Delhi University students, who alleged that men travelling in an SUV followed them and made indecent remarks near Hakikat Park in Mukherjee Nagar. Police said the men fled after the students began recording the incident.
Gandhi, in his post, urged authorities to ensure that women can move freely without fear and that those responsible for offences are dealt with promptly.
