New Education Minister Prahlad Joshi 'Guardian of Rapists'

New Delhi: Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and senior Congress leader, has strongly objected to the appointment of new Union Education Minister Prahlad Joshi, calling him a protector of rapists. He criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that assigning such a person the responsibility of the education ministry after student protests is a shocking and regrettable decision.

Speaking to journalists outside Parliament House, Rahul Gandhi said that students across the country protested against the education system and examination irregularities, and several female students were baton-charged, but instead of addressing the concerns of the youth, the government made someone who defends rapists the education minister.

Rahul Gandhi said, "What can be more shameful than someone defending rapists? Today, India's education minister is such a person. There were many people in the Prime Minister's cabinet, they could have given this responsibility to someone else, but they chose someone who defends those who commit rape. This is really shocking."

The Congress leader's statement comes in the context of Prahlad Joshi's 2022 stance on the early release of 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano gang-rape case. At the time, Prahlad Joshi had said that the release of the convicts was done according to legal procedures and that there is a provision for release after completing the prescribed sentence under the law.

The release of the convicts in the Bilkis Bano case had sparked widespread public and political outrage across the country. The Supreme Court later ruled that the release was based on the misuse of powers. It is worth noting that the central government had assigned the responsibility of the education ministry to Prahlad Joshi earlier in the week.

His appointment came after Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as education minister. Pradhan's resignation came after continuous protests by students across different parts of the country over paper leak issues, demands for transparency in the examination system, and educational reforms. The protests ended after several rounds of talks between the government and student representatives, but the opposition is still accusing the government of failing to protect the future of the youth and ensure transparency in the examination system.