Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government faced strong backlash after women journalists were barred from attending Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s press conference in New Delhi, Indian media reported on Saturday.
Muttaqi, currently on a six-day visit after receiving a temporary travel exemption from the UN Security Council (UNSC) Committee, became the first senior Taliban leader to visit India since 2021.
The visit came shortly after India announced the reopening of its embassy in Kabul — a move widely viewed as a step toward normalizing diplomatic ties with the Taliban administration.
During the press conference held at the Afghanistan Embassy in New Delhi, women journalists were stopped by security personnel and Delhi Police from entering the venue despite repeated requests.
The incident sparked outrage across India, with opposition leaders calling it an affront to press freedom and women’s rights.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi condemned the move, stating that the exclusion of women reporters “shows Modi is too weak to stand up for their rights.” He added, “In our country, women have the right to equal participation in every space. Your silence exposes the emptiness of your slogans on Nari Shakti.”
Senior Congress figure Priyanka Gandhi also demanded an official explanation from the government, questioning how such “an insult to India’s most competent women” was permitted.
Former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram criticized male journalists for not walking out in solidarity, while Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra accused the Modi regime of “disgracing every Indian woman.”
In response, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs distanced itself from the controversy, saying it had “no role” in the event’s organization. It clarified that the Afghan Embassy arranged the press conference and issued invites independently, noting that the embassy’s premises are outside the jurisdiction of Indian authorities.
