Priyanka Gandhi Vadra urged Prime Minister Modi to clarify how Indian women journalists were excluded from the event, calling it an insult to the nation’s women. Meanwhile, The Ministry of External Affairs said India had “no role” in the press meet, as the Afghan Embassy falls outside Indian jurisdiction.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi, October 11, 2025: Congress leaders on Saturday sharply criticized the Indian government after women journalists were reportedly excluded from a press conference held by Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in New Delhi. Former President and Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi accused the Centre of sending a “weak” message to Indian women by failing to intervene.
MEA Washes Hands
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that India had “no role to play” in organizing the press meet. The ministry explained that the invitations were issued by Afghanistan’s Consul General in Mumbai and that the press conference took place at the Afghan Embassy, which is considered foreign territory and does not come under Indian jurisdiction.
Despite following the prescribed dress code, female journalists were reportedly denied entry to the Friday event, prompting strong criticism from media personnel and political leaders alike. Many journalists took to social media to express outrage, emphasizing that the exclusion violated norms of equal access.
Rahul Gandhi’s Reaction
Rahul Gandhi tweeted: “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.”
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Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Demands Clarification
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also condemned the incident, urging the Prime Minister to clarify his stance. She tweeted: “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. How was the insult to some of India’s most competent women allowed in our country, whose women are its backbone and pride?”
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… https://t.co/FyaxxCteK6
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 11, 2025
P. Chidambaram Criticizes Male Journalists
Former Union Minister P. Chidambaram criticized male journalists who attended the event without protest. He tweeted: “I am shocked that women journalists were excluded from the press conference addressed by Mr Amir Khan Muttaqi of Afghanistan. In my personal view, the men journalists should have walked out when they found that their women colleagues were excluded (or not invited).”
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The incident comes against the backdrop of the Taliban government’s well-documented restrictions on women, including barring them from working, banning books authored by women in Afghan universities, and eliminating courses related to gender studies, human rights, and development. The exclusion of women journalists in India has sparked broader debate about the government’s handling of human rights and gender equality in its diplomatic engagements.
Muttaqi arrived in India on Thursday and met External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Friday. During the visit, India announced the upgrading of its Technical Mission in Kabul to a full embassy, signaling a significant step in strengthening bilateral ties. Jaishankar emphasized India’s commitment to Afghanistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and development, citing ongoing India-backed projects and pledging six more initiatives to support Afghan progress.
The incident has raised questions about India’s diplomatic priorities versus domestic commitments to gender equality, with opposition leaders stressing that women’s rights cannot be compromised for international engagements.
