Priyanka and Rahul Gandhi Question PM Modi Over Gender Discrimination at Afghan Minister’s Press Conference
Dr. S. Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister of India with FM Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi of Afghanistan during his visit in New Delhi. Image Source : @DrSJaishankar on X.
Dated 11th October 2025
News By Dr. B R Abdul Wajid
Editor in Chief
New Delhi | A major controversy has erupted in New Delhi after women journalists were barred from attending a press conference held by Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi at the Afghan Embassy. The event, which took place on Friday, 10th October 2025, has sparked strong criticism from opposition leaders and journalist organisations.
Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi sharply criticised the Modi government for allowing what they called a “male-only” press meet on Indian soil.
Image Source : FILE PICTURE – @INCIndia on X
In her message on X, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi said,
“Prime Minister @narendramodi 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.
If your recognition of women’s rights isn’t just convenient posturing from one election to another, 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.”
Image Source : FILE PICTURE – Screen Grab | Video, @INCIndia on X.
Rahul Gandhi, Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, also condemned the incident.
He wrote on X, “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.”
Editors Guild Condemns Exclusion of Women Journalists from Taliban FM Press Meet in India
The Editors Guild of India has also issued a strong statement against the incident, calling it “blatant gender discrimination in press access on Indian soil.”
The Guild said, “While diplomatic premises may claim protection under the Vienna Convention, that cannot justify exclusion of women journalists. Whether or not the MEA coordinated the event, it is deeply troubling that such discrimination was allowed to proceed without objection.”
The Editors Guild further urged the Government of India to “publicly reaffirm that press access at diplomatic events held in India must respect gender equality.”
It also called upon journalists and media organisations to take a strong stand against any form of discrimination at press events, saying that “a free and inclusive press must defend representation, not enable exclusion.”
The controversy has once again highlighted the gap between promises of women empowerment and ground realities. As voices grow stronger against discrimination in the media space, all eyes are on the government to uphold the constitutional values of equality and freedom.
News By Dr. B R Abdul Wajid from New Delhi.
