Hyderabad, Aug. 24 -- Congress MP Mallu Ravi on Monday backed Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's remarks on women's independence, saying that traditional notions of dependence continue to hold back women and limit their participation in social and economic development.

Reacting to Rahul Gandhi's statement, Ravi said that the mindset associated with "Manu Dharma" had contributed to women considering themselves inferior to men, despite their ability to perform equally in several spheres.

"This philosophy of dependence of Manu Dharma is weakening society, particularly women. Though women are capable of doing many things equal to men, they are not doing so because they mentally think they are inferior to men," Ravi said.

He argu...