Priyanka Gandhi defends expunged remarks on Pralhad Joshi: 'I only spoke truth'
Synopsis
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's Lok Sabha remarks on Education Minister Pralhad Joshi were expunged — but she is not backing down. Citing video evidence and linking the minister to a Mangaluru pub assault case, she has turned a parliamentary procedural ruling into a full-blown political confrontation, with the BJP demanding an apology and the Congress vowing to fight on.
Key Takeaways
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra defended her expunged Lok Sabha remarks on 29 July , saying she 'only spoke the truth.' Her comments targeted Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi during debate on the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 .
She cited video evidence linking a person involved in a Mangaluru pub assault to BJP induction by Joshi.
Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi and Kiren Rijiju accused her of 'character assassination' and demanded an apology.
Rijiju alleged Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi used abusive language; Priyanka Gandhi denied the claim.
Priyanka Gandhi has said she will formally contest the expunction of her remarks from parliamentary records.
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday, 29 July stood by her expunged remarks against Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi, asserting she had only spoken the truth and challenging the Lok Sabha's decision to strike her comments from the official record. The remarks were made during a debate on the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, triggering a sharp political confrontation between the Treasury benches and the opposition.
What Priyanka Gandhi Said
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, '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 added that she possessed video evidence to support her claims. '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 Bharatiya Janata Party (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 said.
She also announced her intention to formally raise the issue of why her remarks were expunged from parliamentary records.
The Lok Sabha Flashpoint
The controversy erupted on Tuesday during the House debate on the amendment bill. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's comments targeting the newly appointed Education Minister were subsequently expunged from the official proceedings, a move that prompted protests from Treasury bench members who demanded a public apology from the Congress leader.
Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi and Kiren Rijiju accused her of making personal attacks and engaging in what they described as 'character assassination'. Joshi said, '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.'
Rijiju's Allegation Against Rahul Gandhi
The row widened when Union Minister Kiren Rijiju alleged that Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi had used abusive language in the House. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra flatly denied the charge, saying, 'My brother has never used abusive language.'
Congress has not issued a separate response to Rijiju's allegation as of Wednesday evening.
The Dharmendra Pradhan Remark
During her floor speech, Priyanka Gandhi also criticised BJP MPs for the manner in which they welcomed former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in the Parliament complex following his resignation, saying they greeted him as though a 'superstar' had arrived. The comment added another layer to an already charged session.
What Happens Next
The episode has deepened the standoff between the ruling party and the opposition, with both sides trading accusations over the remarks and their removal from the House record. Priyanka Gandhi's stated intention to formally contest the expunction suggests the controversy is unlikely to subside quickly, and the issue may resurface when Parliament reconvenes for the next sitting day.
Point of View
But the political fallout is anything but. By invoking video evidence and connecting Joshi to the Mangaluru pub assault case, she has shifted the battlefield from parliamentary decorum to ministerial accountability — a terrain the BJP is less comfortable defending. The Treasury benches' insistence on an apology risks amplifying the very allegations they want buried. Meanwhile, the simultaneous allegation against Rahul Gandhi suggests a coordinated counter-offensive, but without specifics it is likely to be overshadowed by the more concrete Mangaluru narrative the Congress is pushing.
NationPress
29 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's remarks expunged from Lok Sabha records?
Her remarks targeting Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi, made during the debate on the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, were ruled unparliamentary by the Chair and struck from the official record. The BJP accused her of personal attacks and character assassination.
What evidence did Priyanka Gandhi claim to have against Pralhad Joshi?
She said she possesses videos and photographs showing that a person involved in an assault on girls at a pub in Mangaluru was inducted into the BJP by Pralhad Joshi, though he was reportedly removed from the party within hours of the induction.
What did Pralhad Joshi say in response to Priyanka Gandhi's remarks?
Joshi said Priyanka Gandhi should have authenticated her statements before making them, called the allegations misinformation, completely refuted them, and demanded both an apology and appropriate action against her.
What is the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026?
It is a legislative amendment being debated in the Lok Sabha aimed at strengthening measures against unfair means in public examinations. The bill became the backdrop for the controversy when Priyanka Gandhi made her remarks during the floor debate.
Did Rahul Gandhi use abusive language in Parliament, as alleged by Kiren Rijiju?
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju alleged that Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi used abusive language in the House. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra flatly denied the claim, saying her brother has never used abusive language. No independent verification of the allegation was available as of Wednesday.
