Patriarchy Didn't Stop Indira Gandhi From Becoming PM, Says Nirmala Sitharaman

Bengaluru News: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday challenged the concept of patriarchy, questioning how Indira Gandhi, one of India's most prominent female leaders, was able to become prime minister if patriarchy was a barrier to women's success. Addressing students at CMS Business School in Bengaluru, Sitharaman spoke on various initiatives by the Centre aimed at fostering innovation and supporting youth, including the government's scheme offering one crore internships to the "unemployable youth" aged 21 to 24 years.

When asked about women empowerment, Sitharaman said, "Don’t get carried away by fantastic jargons. If you stand up for yourself and speak logically, patriarchy will not stop you from achieving your dreams."

"If patriarchy is a guise we want to give ourselves and say my inefficiency, my not being ready, we want to cover it up and say 'patriarchy is stopping me, no way! Who stopped Mrs Indira Gandhi from becoming the Prime Minister of this country? Who stopped her? Before that freedom fighters like Aruna Asaf Ali, Sarojini Naidu and others who stopped any of these people?" Nirmala remarked.