The question dominating Indian politics: Is it worse when women swear?

What the report says

A BBC World News report says a debate in India over profanity and gender has intensified after opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for saying he experienced “culture shock” when young women used swear words during protests. The remarks came amid anger over a protest movement in Delhi and other cities led by the Cockroach Janta Party, which had been pressing for education reforms and was accompanied by heated language aimed at Modi.

According to the BBC, Modi addressed the issue in a video message after the protests, saying abusive language had no place in a civilised society, while also describing the women’s behaviour as a shocking example. His comments drew backlash from some critics, who said they ignored broader concerns such as police action against demonstrators and online abuse, including rape threats, directed at women who took part.

Gandhi argued that the reaction reflected patriarchal attitudes, asking why similar language by men is treated differently. The BBC also reported that the controversy has revived wider discussion about women’s activism, public speech and double standards in Indian politics. Commentators and activists quoted by the broadcaster said women in India have long used expletives in some cultural settings, and that profanity is now common across political and media spaces.

More broadly, the episode points to a larger question in India about how dissent is expressed and policed, especially when women are involved. The BBC noted that the argument has spread beyond the protest itself, touching on social norms, political rhetoric and the growing normalisation of abusive language in public life.