New Delhi: Congress MPs Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday tore into newly-appointed Union Education minister Pralhad Joshi, who was given additional charge following the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan.
Calling him the “most filthy type of man”, Rahul accused Joshi of “protecting rapists”, possibly referring to the BJP leader’s remarks defending the premature release of convicts in the Bilkis Bano gangrape case.
Rahul’s remarks came shortly after his sister Priyanka made similar allegations against Joshi in the Lok Sabha, prompting the Union Minister to reject her claims and demand an apology.
Rahul, the Leader of Opposition, questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to appoint Joshi as Education Minister.
“After all, these young people were protesting about the education system and so many girls are protesting. They’ve been beaten. Then the BJP puts up a man who’s a defender of rapists. That’s 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,” the Raebareli MP told reporters outside Parliament, where a 10-hour discussion on the Anti-Paper Leak Bill is underway.
“There are so many people in his (Modi’s) Cabinet. He could have chosen any one of them, but he chooses a person who protects rapists. It’s quite amazing,” Rahul said.
In 2022, Joshi had defended the Gujarat government’s decision to grant remission to the 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano gangrape case, saying premature release was granted in accordance with law and the state’s remission policy. The Supreme Court later reversed the order, sending the convicts back to prison.
Joshi, Rijiju demand apology
During Priyanka’s speech, a sharp exchange broke out after she said the Prime Minister had sent the wrong message by appointing Joshi as the new Education minister.
“Prime Minister Modi chose a new Education Minister (Pralhad Joshi) and appointed a person to this position who had expressed support for the release of rapists of a pregnant woman. What message has the Prime Minister sent to the crores of girls in this country through this decision? The message is loud and clear. There is no ambiguity about it,” the Congress leader said, referring to the Bilkis Banu case.
Joshi intervened, describing Sonia’s charge as the spread of misinformation. Seeking an apology from Priyanka, Joshi said her remarks should be expunged from the proceedings.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju also objected to Sonia’s remarks, saying they amounted to character assassination and should not form part of the parliamentary record.