Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday strongly criticised the appointment of Pralhad Joshi as the Union Education Minister, alleging that the BJP had entrusted the ministry to a leader who had defended the premature release of the convicts in the Bilkis Bano case.

Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Gandhi expressed surprise over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to hand over the Education Ministry to Joshi after Dharmendra Pradhan stepped down from the post following sustained protests over alleged paper leaks.

Referring to Joshi’s earlier remarks on the remission granted to 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano case, Gandhi said the BJP had chosen a “defender of rapists” for the Education Ministry. He further alleged that there could not be “a filthier man” than someone who believes rapists deserve protection.

His remarks came while the Lok Sabha was debating a Bill aimed at strengthening action against unfair practices in public examinations.

Rahul Gandhi cites Joshi’s earlier remarks on Bilkis Bano case

Pralhad Joshi had defended the Gujarat government’s decision to grant remission to 11 men convicted of raping Bilkis Bano and murdering members of her family during the 2002 Gujarat riots.

At the time, Joshi had stated that the convicts had spent a considerable period in prison and that their release was carried out under the legal process. He had also referred to their reported good behaviour while serving their sentences as one of the factors behind the decision.

In 2024, however, the Supreme Court cancelled the remission granted to the convicts, observing that the order lacked legal competence.

Priyanka Gandhi also questions the appointment

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra echoed Rahul Gandhi’s criticism during her speech in the Lok Sabha.

She said the appointment of a minister who had previously supported the release of the Bilkis Bano convicts sent an adverse message to women and girls across the country. According to her, the Prime Minister’s decision conveyed a clear message without any ambiguity.

Earlier, while Rahul Gandhi was addressing reporters, Priyanka Gandhi also pointed out that many women had participated in the protests related to the education system.

Education Ministry changed after paper leak protests

Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as Union Education Minister on Saturday following weeks of protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) over alleged paper leaks. The demonstrations had been underway at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar since June 20.

Pradhan’s resignation was one of the key demands raised by the protesters. The agitation was called off hours after his resignation letter was submitted to the Prime Minister.

Following the resignation, the Centre assigned the additional charge of the Education Ministry to Pralhad Joshi, who continues to hold the Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution portfolios.

Parliament is set for an important day of legislative business on Tuesday, with both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha scheduled to take up key bills covering public examinations, national honour and the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector.

The Lok Sabha is expected to consider amendments to the law aimed at preventing unfair practices in public examinations, while the Rajya Sabha will deliberate on legislation related to national honour and reforms in the MSME framework.

Lok Sabha to consider Public Examinations Amendment Bill

Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh is scheduled to move the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 for consideration and passage in the Lok Sabha.

The proposed legislation seeks to amend the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.

The House will begin proceedings with the Question Hour. Later, several Union ministers, including Jitin Prasada, Ram Nath Thakur, Nityanand Rai, SP Singh Baghel, BL Verma, Bandi Sanjay Kumar and Pabitra Margherita, are slated to lay papers on the table.

Rajya Sabha to discuss national honour, MSME bills

In the Rajya Sabha, the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 will come up for further consideration. Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to move the bill for passage after a discussion that followed a motion introduced by Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai on Monday.

The Upper House will also witness the introduction of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026 by Union Minister Jitan Ram Majhi.

According to the proposed legislation, the amendments seek to strengthen the mechanism for addressing delayed payments, facilitate the enforcement of arbitral awards and provide states with greater flexibility in deciding the composition of Micro and Small Enterprises Facilitation Councils.

NDA leaders attend ‘Mangal Milan’ meeting

Ahead of the day’s parliamentary proceedings, senior NDA leaders, including Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and Nirmala Sitharaman, arrived for the alliance’s ‘Mangal Milan’ meeting.

As protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) intensified in New Delhi over the demand for then Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, the Centre initially proposed transferring him to another ministry instead of removing him from the government, according to sources.

The proposal was reportedly conveyed during negotiations between Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh and representatives of the CJP. However, the offer was rejected as the protest leaders maintained that only Pradhan’s resignation would meet their demand.

Centre proposed ministry change during first round of talks

According to sources, JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh met CJP representatives Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka at Nadda’s residence on July 20. The meeting took place while police action against protesters was underway in the national capital during the Parliament march called by the group.

During the discussions, the Union ministers reportedly suggested moving Dharmendra Pradhan from the Education Ministry to another portfolio in an effort to resolve the standoff.

However, the CJP negotiators rejected the proposal, reiterating that the protest would continue unless Pradhan resigned from the Union Cabinet.

Sources also said the ministers informed the CJP that appointing or reshuffling ministers was the Prime Minister’s prerogative.

CJP maintained resignation was the only acceptable solution

According to sources, the CJP refused to consider any compromise short of Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.

The negotiators reportedly believed that accepting a ministry change instead of a resignation would trigger a backlash from the protesters participating in the movement.

Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as Education Minister on Saturday, just hours before the third round of talks between the CJP and Union ministers. Following his resignation, the CJP announced that it was calling off its protest.

Rahul Gandhi also opposed a portfolio change

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi had also said that merely changing Dharmendra Pradhan’s ministry would not satisfy students or the Opposition.

He had stated that Pradhan should be removed from the government, saying the former Education Minister had become “a symbol of the mess in the education system.”

Dharmendra Pradhan cited national interest in resignation note

In his resignation letter, Dharmendra Pradhan said he had stepped down to prevent what he described as anti-national forces from taking advantage of the agitation over examination paper leaks.

In a two-page resignation note posted in Hindi on social media, he said his decision was aimed at ensuring that the country’s unity remained intact and that students’ futures were not affected by legal complications, allowing them to focus on their studies and careers.