Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday accused Union minister Pralhad Joshi of being a “defender of rapists” after he reportedly expressed happiness over the release of convicts in the Bilkis Bano gang-rape case. The opposition leaders demanded that Joshi substantiate his stance, while the minister denied the allegations and sought an apology from the Congress MPs.
Joshi had previously defended the early release of 11 men serving life sentences for raping Bilkis Bano and murdering her family during the 2002 Gujarat riots. The Congress leaders criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s choice of Joshi as education minister, claiming his remarks showed a troubling attitude toward sexual violence.
Rahul Gandhi said the minister’s comments were an insult to survivors and the justice system. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra echoed the sentiment, calling for a full explanation. Joshi rejected the accusations, calling them baseless and politically motivated. He challenged the Congress leaders to provide evidence of his alleged remarks.
The exchange underscores ongoing political tension over the Bilkis Bano case, which has drawn national outrage. The 11 convicts were released in August 2022 under Gujarat’s remission policy, sparking widespread criticism from human rights groups and opposition parties.