Congress, BJP spar over Pralhad Joshi's pick as education minister
Congress leaders Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi have criticized the appointment of Pralhad Joshi as India's education minister, citing his past comments regarding the Bilkis Bano case. The BJP has dismissed these allegations as factually incorrect and a distortion of the minister's previous statements on legal remission processes.
Why it matters
This exchange highlights the intense political polarization in India and the use of past rhetoric to challenge the credibility of high-level cabinet appointments.
NEW DELHI: Congress and BJP sparred over the choice of Union minister Pralhad Joshi being given the charge of the education ministry, with leader of the opposition Rahul Gandhi accusing him of defending rapists and BJP's chief spokesperson Anil Baluni hitting back by accusing Rahul of distorting facts for an individual's character assassination.Rahul alleged that Joshi had, in a TV interview a few years ago, justified the release of those convicted of the gang rape of Bilkis Bano during the 2002 Gujarat riots, and dubbed the Union minister a "filthy man".The charge, made after Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla had expunged remarks by Rahul's sister, Wayanad MP and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, drew a fierce response from Baluni, "This is unfortunate, deplorable and unacceptable."Accusing Rahul of making "misleading and factually incorrect" statements about Joshi's TV interview, the Pauri Garhwal MP said, "Joshi never tried to defend anybody.
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