Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday hit out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his recent remarks on Manusmriti, saying the Leader of the Opposition considers it his birthright to “disparage India’s traditions and heritage”.

While speaking at an event in Raebareli, Yogi said the country does not have high expectations from the Congress leader. He also accused Gandhi of disparaging the country’s traditions and heritage.

The UP CM was referring to Rahul Gandhi’s Saturday event in Pune, where he lashed out at “Manusmriti mindset” and urged girl students to “smash patriarchy.”

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Referring to Gandhi’s statement, Yogi said, “The country does not have high expectations of you merely as Rahul Gandhi. Nobody has any expectations from you. However, your role as the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament entails accountability towards the country’s democracy. You took an oath to uphold the Constitution of India, yet you seem to consider it your birthright to disparage India’s traditions and heritage.”

At the ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ event in Maharashtra, Rahul Gandhi spoke about the various types of violence faced by women in the country and quoted Manusmriti “which says a female must be subject to her father in her youth, husband when she is young, and later her son”. He added that the women belong to themselves and not to their fathers, husbands or sons. He went on to term Manusmriti’s prescription as shameful that a woman should remain under the authority of male relatives at every stage of her life.

The Uttar Pradesh CM launched an attack at the Congress leader for what he said was insulting the country, questioning its army and discrediting Hindu Gods.

“When you travel outside Uttar Pradesh, you malign and insult the state. When you go abroad, you insult India. When the country’s army fight against terrorism, you ask evidence from the army. You directly or indirectly encourage anti-national elements. Your party questions the very existence of Lord Shri Ram in Ayodhya,” Adityanath said.

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“As for your commitment to democracy, the country witnessed the dark shadow of the Emergency in 1975. You make comments regarding Manu, Ram, or India’s heritage. If you wish to understand Manu, read the Atharvaveda, the Shatapatha Brahmana and the Matsya Purana, you will find all the information there,” he added.