Published on: August 26, 2026
By: BTNI
Location: New Delhi, India
A fresh political war of words has erupted between BJP MP Kangana Ranaut and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi after Ranaut responded to Gandhi’s “smash the patriarchy” message with a social media post centred on “Bharat Mata Ki Jai.”
Ranaut shared a graphic depicting Rahul Gandhi asking a woman to “smash the patriarchy”. The woman responds, “Bro, wait. Bharat Mata Ki Jai shuru karte hain,” before raising a series of political and social questions.
Kangana Ranaut Takes Aim at Rahul Gandhi
Ranaut’s post came after Rahul Gandhi backed actor Kriti Sanon amid an online controversy over her outfit in a Rakshabandhan advertisement for jewellery brand GIVA.
Sanon had faced criticism over an ivory lehenga featuring a deep-neck blouse and cape. While some social media users described the outfit as inappropriate, Ranaut called it “intentionally creepy”.
Responding to the criticism, Sanon questioned why women continue to be told what they should wear.
Rahul Gandhi Backs Kriti Sanon
Rahul Gandhi shared Sanon’s response on Instagram and said that what a woman wears, what she does and where she goes is her choice.
He urged people to stop trolling women for exercising their freedom and used the hashtag #SmashThePatriarchy.
Gandhi’s comments subsequently became the focus of a political counterattack, with Ranaut using the phrase to question the Congress leader’s position on several issues concerning women and political representation.
‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ Becomes Ranaut’s Counter
In the graphic shared by Ranaut, the woman initially responds to Gandhi’s call by saying she wants to begin with “Bharat Mata Ki Jai.”
The post then raises issues including the Women’s Reservation Bill, triple talaq, the Shah Bano case and the absence of a woman minister in Karnataka, a state governed by the Congress.
The exchange was presented as a satirical political response to Gandhi’s “smash the patriarchy” campaign.
Bansuri Swaraj Also Targets Rahul Gandhi
BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj also launched a sharp attack on Rahul Gandhi, questioning what she described as his silence on previous controversial remarks directed at women.
Speaking to reporters, Swaraj cited alleged instances involving Kangana Ranaut and veteran actor and BJP leader Hema Malini. She also referred to remarks made by former Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury about the President of India.
Swaraj questioned Gandhi’s record on women’s representation and empowerment while challenging his support for the “smash the patriarchy” message.
GIVA Withdraws the Controversial Advertisement
Meanwhile, jewellery brand GIVA withdrew the Rakshabandhan advertisement following the controversy.
The company said that hurting religious or cultural sentiments was never its intention. The withdrawal came amid growing criticism of the advertisement and the debate surrounding Sanon’s appearance in the campaign.
How the Controversy Began
The political controversy surrounding Rahul Gandhi’s “smash the patriarchy” remark emerged after his comments at the “Chhatron Ki Goonj” event in Pune on August 22.
His subsequent support for Kriti Sanon brought the issue into the political spotlight, with BJP leaders challenging his position and accusing him of selective outrage.
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Kangana Ranaut’s latest post has now added another layer to the confrontation, turning a debate over a celebrity advertisement into a wider political argument over women’s rights, representation, social freedom and the Congress leadership’s record.
Political Debate Moves Beyond the Advertisement
What began as a controversy over a Rakshabandhan advertisement has quickly evolved into a political exchange involving senior leaders from the BJP and Congress.
With Ranaut’s “Bro, wait” response and Bansuri Swaraj’s criticism, the “smash the patriarchy” remark has become the latest flashpoint in the ongoing political battle between the two parties.
