New Delhi: The opposition Saturday termed the absence of female journalists from a press conference of visiting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi ‘unacceptable’ and “an insult to women”, and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to clarify his position on the matter.
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.
In our country, women have the right to equal participation in every space. Your silence in the face of such… https://t.co/FyaxxCteK6
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 11, 2025
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said if the prime minister’s recognition of women’s rights isn’t just convenient posturing from one election to the other, how has this “insult to some of India’s most competent women been allowed in our country”.
The Congress said it was shocking and unacceptable that the government of India agreed to the “ban on female journalists” at the presser in Delhi.
In a post on X, Congress general secretary in-charge communications, Jairam Ramesh, said, “(Tali)ban on female journalists in India. Shocking and unacceptable that the Govt of India agreed to it — and that too in New Delhi on the eve of the International Day of the Girl Child.”
(Tali)ban on female journalists in India. Shocking and unacceptable that the Govt of India agreed to it – and that too in New Delhi on the eve of the International Day of the Girl Child
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) October 11, 2025
Priyanka Gandhi asked Modi to clarify his position on the absence of women journalists from Muttaqi’s press conference, and described the incident as an “insult to some of India’s most competent women”.
“Prime Minister @narendramodi ji, please clarify your position on the removal of female journalists from the press conference of the representative of the Taliban on his visit to India,” she said on X.
“If your recognition of women’s rights isn’t just convenient posturing from one election to the other, how has this insult to some of India’s most competent women been allowed in our country, a country whose women are its backbone and its pride,” Priyanka Gandhi said.
Prime Minister @narendramodi ji, please clarify your position on the removal of female journalists from the press conference of the representative of the Taliban on his visit to India.
If your recognition of women’s rights isn’t just convenient posturing from one election to…
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) October 11, 2025
The press conference addressed by Muttaqi Friday saw participation restricted to a handful of reporters, while women journalists were conspicuous by their absence.
Muttaqi held the interaction at the Afghan embassy in New Delhi, hours after holding wide-ranging talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
It is learnt that the decision on inviting journalists to the media interaction was taken by Taliban officials accompanying the foreign minister.
People familiar with the matter said the Indian side suggested to the Afghan side that women journalists should be part of the invitees for the event.
In a post on X, former home minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said, “I am shocked that women journalists were excluded from the press conference addressed by Mr Amir Khan Muttaqi of Afghanistan.”
“In my personal view, the men journalists should have walked out when they found that their women colleagues were excluded (or not invited),” Chidambaram said.
I am shocked that women journalists were excluded from the press conference addressed by Mr Amir Khan Muttaqi of Afghanistan
In my personal view, the men journalists should have walked out when they found that their women colleagues were excluded (or not invited)
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) October 11, 2025
Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra also slammed the government on the issue.
“The government has dishonoured every single Indian woman by allowing the Taliban minister to exclude women journalists from his presser. Shameful bunch of spineless hypocrites,” she said on X.
Govt has dishonoured every single Indian woman by allowing Taliban minister to exclude women journalists from presser. Shameful bunch of spineless hypocrites. pic.twitter.com/xxnqofS6ob
— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) October 10, 2025
Another Trinamool MP, Sagarika Ghose, claimed the Narendra Modi government again “reveals its failure to evolve a foreign policy in which engagement is separated from endorsement”.
“Women journalists being excluded from the #Taliban press conference in Delhi is UNACCEPTABLE and HATEFUL. This is not oh-so-smart ‘geostrategic diplomacy’, it is a surrender by the weak, failed Narendra Modi coalition government,” she said on X.
Does the @narendramodi government share the anti woman mindset of the Taliban? pic.twitter.com/WhHPvn05JO
— Sagarika Ghose (@sagarikaghose) October 11, 2025
RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha said that by not allowing women journalists to attend the press conference of the Taliban foreign minister, India has compromised its own moral and diplomatic standing.
“This is not just a procedural lapse but a symbolic surrender of India’s long-cherished commitment to equality, freedom of the press, and gender justice.
“For a country that has prided itself on being the world’s largest democracy and a champion of women’s participation in every sphere, this incident is deeply disappointing and politically short-sighted,” Jha said in a post on X.
“It sends out the wrong message to Indian women and the global community that convenience has triumphed over conviction. Jai Hind,” he added.
By not allowing women journalists to attend the press conference of the Taliban Foreign Minister, India has compromised its own moral and diplomatic standing. This is not just a procedural lapse but a symbolic surrender of India’s long-cherished commitment to equality, freedom of… pic.twitter.com/nUxk82v1pc
— Manoj Kumar Jha (@manojkjhadu) October 11, 2025
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said in an X post, “No women journalists invited for the presser (because of Taliban beliefs). The Bamiyan Buddhas (destroyed by Taliban) were the backdrop at the presser.
“The messaging of the ‘Emirates of Afghanistan’ as recognised as of yesterday by the Indian government. Truly ironic,” she said.
No women journalists invited for the Presser (because of Taliban beliefs)
The Bamiyan Buddhas (destroyed by Taliban) as the backdrop at the presser.The messaging of the ‘Emirates of Afghanistan’ as recognised as of yesterday by the Indian government.
Truly ironic.
— Priyanka Chaturvedi🇮🇳 (@priyankac19) October 11, 2025
Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate asked why did the Modi government agree to this “men-only” “Talibani diktat”.
“How weak are you @DrSJaishankar and @narendramodi,” Shrinate asked.
तालिबान विदेश मंत्री ने भारतीय महिला पत्रकारों को अपनी प्रेस वार्ता से प्रतिबंधित किया
मोदी सरकार कायरों की तरह चुप नहीं रह सकती. जवाब दे, आख़िर ऐसा होने कैसे दिया गया
और पुरुष पत्रकार जो प्रेस वार्ता में बैठे रहे – लानत है आप पर pic.twitter.com/c8a158ZTLJ
— Supriya Shrinate (@SupriyaShrinate) October 11, 2025
The Congress on its official X handle said women journalists were barred from Taliban Foreign Minister Muttaqi’s press conference on Indian soil.
“This is not just about one event. It reflects the utter disregard for women’s dignity that has become normal under the Modi government. When the world looks to India, a democracy built on equality, what message are we sending by allowing such discrimination to take place here?
“We demand answers from the Modi government. How can they let anyone disrespect women on our soil? Or is this the government’s own vision for women’s silence, exclusion, and submission?”
“How weak are you, @DrSJaishankar and @narendramodi, that you cannot even defend the basic dignity of Indian women in your own country,” the party asked.
Women journalists were barred from the Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Muttaqi’s press conference on Indian soil.
This is not just about one event. It reflects the utter disregard for women’s dignity that has become normal under the Modi government. When the world looks to India,…
— Congress (@INCIndia) October 11, 2025
Congress MP Karti Chidambaram said, “I understand the geopolitical compulsions that force us to engage with the Taliban, but to accede to their discriminatory and plain primitive mores is outright ridiculous, it’s very disappointing to note the conduct of the @MEAIndia and @DrSJaishankar in excluding women journalists from the press briefing of the Taliban Minister.”
I understand the geopolitical compulsions that force us to engage with the Taliban, but to acede to their discriminatory & plain primitive mores is outright ridiculous, it’s very disappointing to note the conduct of the @MEAIndia & @DrSJaishankar in excluding women journalists…
— Karti P Chidambaram (@KartiPC) October 10, 2025
The Taliban regime in Kabul has faced severe criticism from various countries as well as global bodies like the United Nations for restricting the rights of women in Afghanistan.
On Friday, Muttaqi side-stepped a direct question on the plight of women in Afghanistan, but said every country has its own customs, laws and principles, and there should be respect for them.
He claimed that the overall situation in Afghanistan has improved significantly since the Taliban came to power in August 2021.
Muttaqi pointed out that some 200 to 400 people died in Afghanistan every day before the Taliban started ruling the country.
“In these four years, there have been no such losses. Laws are in force and every one has their rights. Those who are engaging in propaganda are making a mistake,” Muttaqi said.
“Every country has its own customs, laws and principles, and works according to those. It is not correct that people are not given their rights. If people were not happy with the system and the laws, why has peace returned,” he asked.
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