Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the prominent Congress leader, has vehemently condemned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent statement regarding mangalsutra, a traditional marital necklace worn by Hindu women. During an election rally in Madhya Pradesh, PM Modi had asserted that the absence of a mangalsutra on a woman’s neck signifies her status as a widow.
In a strong rebuttal, Priyanka Gandhi highlighted her own family history to challenge PM Modi’s assertion. She pointed to her mother, Indira Gandhi, and her grandmother, Kamala Nehru, as exemplars of influential and respected women who chose not to wear mangalsutra. Their lives and accomplishments, she emphasized, stood as a testament to the fact that a woman’s worth and marital status are not defined by the presence or absence of a mangalsutra.
Priyanka Gandhi’s statement has sparked a wider debate on the significance of mangalsutra in modern Indian society. Some have argued that PM Modi’s remarks reinforce outdated and patriarchal notions of female identity, while others have defended his statement as a reflection of traditional Hindu values. The ensuing discussion has brought to the forefront the complex and evolving nature of gender roles and expectations in India.
