Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. (ANI/PTI Photos)A DAY after Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s Chhatron Ki Goonj event in Pune, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday ridiculed his claim of women’s empowerment by saying that he does not want women to get their rights. However, the Shiv Sena (UBT) said Rahul Gandhi has emerged as “the reassuring voice of India“.“Rahul Gandhi wants to ensure that women are not given their rights. On stage in Pune, he spoke about women’s empowerment while he has opposed the most revolutionary step in the form of Women’s Reservation Bill. He has opposed the bill and has also voted against it,” Fadnavis said while speaking to reporters in Nagpur after the closing ceremony of Manthan 4 Yuva, Nagpur 2026 — a youth outreach event.Taking a jibe at the Congress, Fadnavis said as many as 1.50 lakh youngsters participated in Gen Z event in Nagpur. “They all came on their own,” he said. On Saturday when Rahul Gandhi addressed the Chhatron Ki Goonj event, Fadnavis had alleged that social media influencers were paid Rs 30,000 to promote the event. Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in Pune on Saturday. (Photo Credit: Pavan Khengre)Other state BJP leaders also criticised Rahul Gandhi’s event. BJP vice-president Keshav Upadhaye said, “Rahul Gandhi flayed the patriarchy system… His stance is fine, but What will happen to our dynastic politics? If we discard the patriarchal system, the leftover, remaining Congress party itself will be left empty. Because in the Congress, legacy is prioritised over ideas, families are prioritised over merit, and relatives are prioritised over party workers.”Read | Fadnavis alleges bias in Rahul Gandhi’s Pune student event; Congress hits backWhile BJP took potshots at Gandhi’s event, Congress’ partners in Maha Vikas Aghadi like Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) hailed the event.Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sushma Andhare described Rahul Gandhi as “the reassuring voice of India”. Similarly, NCP (SP) said the huge crowd had gathered spontaneously for Rahul Gandhi’s event. “The event held yesterday in Pune with Rahulji was unforgettable. From around 4:30 to 4:45 pm until 9 pm, youth participated in this event for a full five hours,” she said.“Even though there were no chairs arranged, these youngsters stood for five hours trying to capture Rahulji’s cheerful expressions,” she said.Story continues below this adRead | ‘Reassuring voice of India’: Sena UBT praises Rahul Gandhi’s Pune student eventHer party colleague Sanjay Raut, said BJP was rattled by Rahul Gandhi’s interaction with students. “The saffron party started making all sorts of allegations like raising questions about sources of funds for the event. Fundamentally, the BJP is no longer a political party; it has itself become a massive paid event,” he said.Raut said if BJP was alleging that Rahul’s event was a paid one, then what was the Ladki Bahin Yojana, through which, he said, Rs 1,500 was given to women to buy votes. “That too was just a paid event,” he said.Raut said the BJP was upset simply because there was a huge turnout at Rahul Gandhi’s event. “Making such accusations against students is an insult to the youth,” he said.Reacting to Rahul Gandhi’s event, NCP(SP) MLA Rohit Pawar, who had also put up banners welcoming the Congress leader in Pune, said, “There was a bubbling enthusiasm and liveliness in a crowd that had gathered spontaneously for a leader, which was visible yesterday.. But a gathered crowd is always just waiting for the time to end, which is visible today.”Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis. Professional Legacy Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles. Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change. Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities. Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees. Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area: 1. Political Shifts & Alliances "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala. "BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls. "Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections. "NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections. 2. Civic & Administrative Accountability "PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions. "93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads. 3. Social & Labor Issues "As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra. "Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse. Signature Beat Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport. X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 ... Read MoreClick here to join Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated list of our storiesTags:Devendra FadnavisRahul Gandhi