Women Journalists Barred from Afghan Minister’s Press Event Sparks Political Firestorm
New Delhi, India: The Indian government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is under heavy criticism after women journalists were barred from attending a press conference by Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in New Delhi. The incident, widely covered by Indian media, has ignited a nationwide debate on gender discrimination, press freedom, and women’s rights under the current administration.
Muttaqi’s visit marks a significant diplomatic moment, as it is the first trip by an Afghan Taliban leader to India since 2021. The six-day visit was made possible after the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) granted the Taliban official a temporary exemption from international travel sanctions.
However, the historic nature of the visit was quickly overshadowed by controversy when female journalists were denied entry to his press event at the Afghan Embassy in New Delhi.
Security Blocks Women Reporters Despite Repeated Requests
According to multiple media reports, women journalists from leading Indian outlets arrived at the Afghan Embassy to cover the press conference but were stopped by security personnel and Delhi Police officials at the entrance.
Despite repeated requests and appeals to attend, officials refused to allow female reporters inside the venue. No clear reason was provided at the time, although sources suggested the Taliban delegation had requested the restriction.
The exclusion has been widely condemned by journalists’ associations and women’s groups across India. Many see it as a blatant violation of press freedom and an insult to women’s equality, especially on Indian soil.
Opposition Slams Modi Government Over Silence
The move has sparked a political backlash from opposition parties, who accused the Modi government of remaining silent in the face of a clear act of gender discrimination.
The Indian National Congress, led by Rahul Gandhi, was among the first to react strongly. Gandhi criticized Modi directly in a post on X (formerly Twitter), saying the government’s failure to speak out amounted to weakness and hypocrisy.
“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,” Gandhi wrote.
“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 (woman power).”
His comments referenced Modi’s frequent use of Nari Shakti as a campaign slogan, promoting women’s empowerment — a message many now view as contradicted by the government’s inaction.
Priyanka Gandhi and Opposition Leaders Demand Accountability
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also weighed in, calling the incident a national embarrassment and demanding that the government clarify its position on why Indian women were barred from attending a diplomatic press event in their own country.
“If your recognition of women’s rights isn’t just convenient posturing from one election to the other, then how has this insult to some of India’s most competent women been allowed in our country?” she asked.
“The women of India are its backbone and its pride.”
Her comments were echoed by Trinamool Congress (TMC) Member of Parliament Mahua Moitra, who launched a scathing attack on the Modi administration, accusing it of surrendering national dignity.
“By allowing such discrimination on Indian soil, the Modi regime has disgraced every Indian woman,” Moitra said. “This government has chosen complicity over courage.”
Taliban’s Visit and India’s Diplomatic Shift
The controversy unfolded amid a significant diplomatic development: India’s decision to upgrade its ties with the Taliban-led administration in Afghanistan.
Just a day before Muttaqi’s press conference, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced that it would reopen its embassy in Kabul, which had remained shut since the Taliban seized power in 2021.
Analysts say the decision reflects India’s pragmatic shift in foreign policy, acknowledging the Taliban’s control in Kabul and aiming to secure regional stability and protect its strategic interests.
During his visit, Muttaqi met with Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar in New Delhi, where the two sides discussed trade, humanitarian assistance, and security cooperation. A photograph released by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs showed Jaishankar and Muttaqi shaking hands — an image that drew both praise and criticism online.
However, the symbolic handshake has now been overshadowed by the press freedom controversy, with critics arguing that India should have enforced its own constitutional values, even during a diplomatic engagement.
Public Outcry and Gender Rights Concerns
The incident has sparked outrage among journalists, activists, and women’s rights advocates, who called it a dangerous precedent for media access and gender equality in India.
Prominent journalists described the event as a “dark day” for press freedom. The Indian Women’s Press Corps (IWPC) issued a statement condemning the exclusion, calling it “deeply disturbing” and urging the government to take immediate corrective measures.
“The exclusion of women journalists from a press event held on Indian soil violates the principles of equality enshrined in our Constitution,” the statement said. “It is unacceptable that such practices are tolerated, let alone during an official visit sanctioned by the Indian government.”
The group also demanded a public apology from both the Afghan Embassy and the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, saying silence amounted to endorsement.
Government Yet to Issue Official Statement
As of Sunday evening, the Modi government and the Ministry of External Affairs had not issued an official response. The absence of a statement has only fueled speculation that Indian authorities may have complied with the Taliban’s request to exclude women from the event, sparking further anger.
Critics argue that by allowing discriminatory practices, the government has undermined India’s global image as the world’s largest democracy and a champion of gender equality.
Political analyst Arunesh Kumar told national media that the incident “reflects the government’s reluctance to confront regressive ideologies when political or diplomatic interests are at stake.”
“India’s strength lies in its democracy and equality,” he said. “By staying silent, the government risks signaling that these values are negotiable.”
Women’s Rights and Democracy in Question
The controversy comes at a time when India has been campaigning for global recognition as a defender of women’s empowerment and human rights. The country has hosted multiple international conferences on gender equality and media freedom in recent years.
However, the recent episode has exposed the contradictions between rhetoric and action, critics say.
Women’s rights activists have warned that normalizing such exclusions could embolden other groups to impose similar restrictions under the guise of cultural or diplomatic protocol.
As outrage continues to mount, the incident is being seen not just as a diplomatic blunder, but as a test of India’s commitment to gender equality and freedom of the press — values enshrined in its Constitution and celebrated worldwide.