A heated exchange erupted in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday after Congress Lok Sabha MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticized the appointment of newly appointed Education Minister Pralhad Joshi, prompting accusations of misinformation and character assassination from the ruling party, according to The News Mill.
Priyanka Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi Target New Education Minister Pralhad Joshi
The parliamentary uproar followed the resignation of former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, which occurred amid massive student protests over examination irregularities including the NEET paper leak controversy. Following Pradhan’s exit, Pralhad Joshi was handed the additional charge of the education ministry, as reported by India Today.
During the Lok Sabha debate, Priyanka Gandhi criticized the government over accountability and examination irregularities, stating that the Prime Minister appointed an Education Minister who expressed consent and happiness over the release of individuals convicted of raping a pregnant woman, referencing the Bilkis Bano case. Outside Parliament, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi similarly criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s choice, expressing amazement that the Prime Minister selected Joshi when there were many other ministers in his cabinet, according to NDTV.
BJP Ministers Demand Apology and Expunction of Remarks
The remarks by Priyanka Gandhi triggered strong pushback from treasury benches. Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi and Kiren Rijiju accused her of spreading misinformation and making personal allegations, as detailed by The News Mill.
Pralhad Joshi demanded that Priyanka Gandhi authenticate her claims, labelling them misinformation, and stated that she should be expelled and must apologise. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju also condemned the comments as character assassination in Parliament, stating that such language should not be used and demanding that the objectionable remarks be expunged from the parliamentary records, according to News18.
Background on the Bilkis Bano Case Controversy
The criticism from the Congress leaders stems from Pralhad Joshi’s past remarks regarding the 2002 Gujarat riots case. Joshi served as the Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister in 2018 when 11 men serving life terms for raping Bilkis Bano and killing her family were granted early release, as reported by NDTV.
At the time, Joshi defended the decision, telling NDTV that the convicts had spent quite some time in prison and that their release was a process of law in accordance with the state’s remission policy and good behavior arguments. In 2024, the Supreme Court cancelled the early release, ruling that the remission order lacked competence and ordering the convicts back to prison, according to India Today.
Parliamentary Debate on the Anti-Paper Leak Bill
The heated exchanges occurred as a 10-hour discussion on the anti-paper leak bill got underway in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, ending a week-long logjam, according to India Today.
Minister of State in the PMO Jitendra Singh introduced the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, describing it as a reaffirmation of the government’s commitment to safeguarding student welfare and completing an unaccomplished task to prevent examination malpractices. Meanwhile, opposition leaders used the platform to highlight youth protests, student grievances regarding the education system, and recent examination controversies.
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