Gandhis vs Pralhad Joshi: 'Defender of rapists' charge meets 'authenticate it' challenge
Congress leaders Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi have accused the new Indian Education Minister, Pralhad Joshi, of supporting convicted rapists. Joshi has demanded an apology and threatened expulsion, while the opposition claims to have video evidence to substantiate their allegations.
Why it matters
This highlights a significant political confrontation in India regarding the integrity of cabinet appointments and the ongoing debate over justice for sexual violence victims.
NEW DELHI: Congress MPs Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of appointing as the new education minister a leader who had "expressed happiness over the release of those who raped a pregnant woman."Union minister Pralhad Joshi has been given additional charge of the ministry of education following the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan on July 25 amid nationwide student protests over the NEET (UG) paper leak.Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was the first to target Joshi, making the remarks during the Lok Sabha debate on the Centre's proposed amendments to the anti-paper leak law."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," the Wayanad MP alleged, prompting Union minister Pralhad Joshi and parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju to intervene and demand that she substantiate the claim.An irate Joshi…
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