A political confrontation erupted in Parliament on Tuesday after Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra launched a sharp attack on newly appointed Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi over his alleged past remarks related to the release of convicts in the Bilkis Bano case. The BJP strongly rejected the allegations, with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju demanding that Priyanka Gandhi apologise and Joshi accusing the Congress MP of spreading misinformation.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Priyanka Gandhi questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to appoint Joshi as Education Minister, alleging that he had welcomed the release of men convicted of raping a pregnant woman.

"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 said while criticising the government's commitment to women's rights.

Outside Parliament, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi escalated the attack, calling the appointment "astonishing."

"Education Minister of India - the BJP puts a man who is a defender of rapists. That is the most filthy type of man. There can be no flithier man than somebody who says that rapists need protection. That is the Education Minister of India today. It's a strange reaction from the PM, that there are so many people in his cabinet, he could have chosen anyone of them," Rahul Gandhi told reporters.

The remarks triggered immediate protests, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju objected to Priyanka Gandhi's comments, saying they amounted to "character assassination" inside Parliament.

He urged the Chair to expunge the remarks from the proceedings and said such language should not be used in the House. Rijiju also demanded that Priyanka Gandhi apologise.

Education Minister Pralhad Joshi also rejected the allegations, saying the Congress MP should have verified her claims before making them on the floor of the House.

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

Responding later, Priyanka Gandhi stood by her remarks and said she would formally submit evidence.

"At a time when they are saying that they are bringing in women's rights, women's reservations and they are putting women in the forefront...It's a very wrong message...I am going to authenticate. There is a video of that time. I will submit everything with proper procedure," she said.

What controversy was Priyanka Gandhi referring to?

Priyanka Gandhi's remarks referred to the controversy surrounding the remission granted in 2022 to 11 men convicted in the Bilkis Bano case. Bilkis Bano was gang-raped while pregnant during the 2002 Gujarat riots, and several members of her family were killed.

At the time of the convicts' release, remarks by several political leaders drew widespread criticism, with the issue becoming a major national political flashpoint over women's safety and justice. Priyanka Gandhi indicated that she would rely on video evidence to support her allegation regarding Joshi's position on the matter.

Why is Pralhad Joshi the new Education Minister?

Pralhad Joshi took charge as Union Education Minister after Dharmendra Pradhan resigned from the post.

The change came amid nationwide student protests over paper leaks and other education-related issues, one of whose key demands was Pradhan's removal as Education Minister.

While the government has not linked Pradhan's resignation or Joshi's appointment to the protests of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), the timing of the leadership change has become a point of political debate.