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Informist, Tuesday, Jul. 28, 2026

 

NEW DELHI – Indian National Congress Member of Parliament Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's remarks on newly appointed Education Minister Pralhad Joshi Tuesday caused a ruckus in the Lok Sabha with Joshi demanding an apology and "expulsion" of the representative from Wayanad, Kerala.

 

Participating in a discussion on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, in Lok Sabha, Gandhi Vadra said, "The prime minister appointed a new education minister, a person who expressed consent and even happiness over the release of those convicted of raping a pregnant woman." She was referring to Joshi's alleged comments in response to a question by a journalist on remission of the sentence of the 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano rape case by the Gujarat government in 2022.

 

Objecting to this, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the Congress general secretary's remarks amounted to "character assassination within Parliament". "These statements should be expunged from the record. Secondly, such language should not be used. She should apologise to the House," Rijiju said.

 

Joshi said Priyanka Gandhi should have "authenticated" her statement. "Action should be taken regarding the misinformation being spread. Can one simply say anything and get away with it?" he fumed. "I refute these allegations. She should be expelled and must apologise."

 

Later, speaking to reporters outside the House, Priyanka Gandhi said she will authenticate her statement "with proper procedure" as "there is a video of that time". She said that at a time when the Narendra Modi government is talking of women's rights and bringing Bills for women's quota in Parliament, the appointment of such a minister sends "a very wrong message".

 

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi defended his sister's stance. Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, he said he found it "amazing" that after all these protests by young students, who included a lot of girls, the Bharatiya Janata Party chose a "defender of rapists" to head the education ministry. "That is the most filthy type of man. There can be no filthier man than somebody who says that rapists need protection. That is the education minister of India today," he said.  

 

Former education minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned last week after nationwide protests by students against the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test paper leak in May. "It is a strange reaction from the prime minister. There are so many people in his Cabinet, he could have chosen anyone of them. But he chooses a person who protects rapists. Quite amazing," the Lok Sabha member from Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh remarked.

 

Given the belligerent stance of both the BJP and the Congress, the controversy is likely to play out further in the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament.  End

 

Reported by Asim Khan

Edited by Rajeev Pai

 

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