Sri Vijaya Puram/New Delhi, July 29: Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday defended her remarks against Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi, asserting that she had merely stated the truth and questioning why her comments were deemed unparliamentary and later expunged from the official records of the Lok Sabha.
Speaking to reporters, Priyanka Gandhi said she stood by her statements despite criticism from the Treasury benches.
“I only spoke the truth. What was unparliamentary about what I said? If they want to punish me for speaking the truth, they are free to do so. I will continue to speak the truth,” she said.
The Congress leader also claimed that she possessed evidence to support her allegations.
“I have videos with me. We have also seen the incident involving the assault of girls at a pub in Mangaluru. The person involved was inducted into the BJP by Pralhad Joshi. Although he was removed a few hours later, photographs of his induction exist. So, this is not just about one incident; it reflects his attitude towards women,” she alleged.
Priyanka Gandhi said she would raise the issue of why her remarks had been removed from the parliamentary record.
Responding to Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju’s allegation that Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi had used abusive language in the House, she said, “My brother has never used abusive language.”
The controversy stems from a heated exchange in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday during the discussion on the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026. During the debate, Priyanka Gandhi made remarks concerning Pralhad Joshi that were subsequently expunged from the official proceedings.
The expunction triggered strong objections from members of the Treasury benches, who demanded that the Congress MP apologise for her statements.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi rejected the allegations, stating that Priyanka Gandhi should have substantiated her claims before making such remarks.
“Priyanka Gandhi should have authenticated her statements. Action should be taken regarding the misinformation being spread. Can one simply say anything and get away with it? I completely refute these allegations. She should apologise, and appropriate action should be taken,” Joshi said.
During the debate, Priyanka Gandhi also criticised BJP MPs for welcoming former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in Parliament after his resignation, saying they greeted him as though a “superstar” had arrived.
The exchange has intensified the political confrontation between the BJP and the Congress, with both sides accusing each other of lowering parliamentary standards while disputing the circumstances surrounding the removal of the remarks from the House records.
