Surendran Questions Rahul Gandhi Over Shaji's Remarks on Muslim Women

Bharatiya Janata Party national secretary K. Surendran has challenged Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi to clarify his position on remarks made by Kerala's Local Self-Government Minister K.M. Shaji about Muslim women and their online choices.

In a post on X on Tuesday, Mr. Surendran referred to the Indian Union Muslim League leader's contention that Muslim girls make up the largest share of followers of atheist social media pages. He said the Minister had described the trend as a matter of serious concern and argued that Muslim organisations had failed to guide young women.

Mr. Surendran framed the issue as a test of the Congress leadership's stated commitment to women's freedom. He asked whether Mr. Gandhi would speak up for the freedom of choice of Muslim women, or whether that principle applied differently in this case.

Mr. Shaji made the remarks while addressing a national seminar at the University of Calicut on September 27. He said young Muslim women were increasingly engaging with atheist content online, and questioned whether community organisations had adequately understood or guided this shift.

The exchange places the debate over women's personal choices and community guidance at the centre of Kerala's political discourse, with the BJP seeking to turn the Minister's own remarks into a question for the Opposition leadership in Parliament.