'Pralhad Joshi is a man who supports rape convicts; women of his country will never accept this'

NEW DELHI: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on newly appointed Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi. Rahul accused Joshi of defending those convicted in the Bilkis Bano gang rape case and called him "the vilest man." He said appointing such a person as the country's Education Minister was an insult to India's students.

Rahul Gandhi was referring to Pralhad Joshi's support for the Gujarat government's decision to grant premature release to the 11 convicts in the 2002 Bilkis Bano gang rape case. He questioned why Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose Pralhad Joshi for the Education Ministry despite having several other leaders in the Union Cabinet.

"There is nothing worse than trying to protect people convicted of rape. Pralhad Joshi's appointment is an insult to our education system and to the students of this country. A person like him has been given charge of institutions where millions of girls study. The women of this country will never accept this," Rahul Gandhi said.

Meanwhile, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also criticised the Central government over the issue in the Lok Sabha. She questioned what message Prime Minister Narendra Modi was sending to the country's girls by appointing as Education Minister a person who had supported the release of those convicted of raping a pregnant woman.