Priyanka Gandhi's Remark Sparks Uproar in Lok Sabha, Kiren Rijiju Demands Apology as Speaker Steps In A remark by Priyanka Gandhi during a Lok Sabha debate on the new anti-paper-leak law, brought after the NEET leak row, triggered a major uproar, with Kiren Rijiju demanding an apology and the Speaker stepping in. Parliament's Monsoon Session saw a fierce uproar in the Lok Sabha after Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi took a direct, if unnamed, dig at Union Minister Pralhad Joshi during a debate on the government's new stringent law against paper leaks, brought in the wake of the NEET paper leak controversy. She said the government had appointed as education minister a person who had welcomed the release of convicts in a rape case. The remark triggered immediate protests from the treasury benches, and Priyanka Gandhi's microphone was repeatedly muted during the live telecast. The RML Hospital visit and questions on the police crackdown Priyanka Gandhi told the House that she had visited RML Hospital to meet a student injured during the protests. There, the injured student's mother asked her whether the people responsible for her daughter's condition had also come to see her. Priyanka Gandhi said the question left her deeply ashamed. She then directly asked the Prime Minister and the Home Minister who had ordered a lathicharge, tear gas and pellet guns against students who were protesting peacefully, in a Gandhian manner. Shrinking education budget and the paper leak mafia She said parents across the country sell land and jewellery to educate their children, yet money still counts for more than merit in the system. Students, she said, are only asking that paper leaks stop and that action be taken against those running the leak racket. She also alleged that education's share of the national budget keeps shrinking even as the need to raise it grows. The Pralhad Joshi remark that set off the uproar Without naming him, Priyanka Gandhi referred to a former education minister's resignation and the celebrations that followed it, alleging that the government had handed a ministerial post to a leader who had publicly welcomed the release of convicts in the Bilkis Bano case. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and Pralhad Joshi both strongly objected, calling the remark character assassination and demanding that Priyanka Gandhi unconditionally apologise to the House and that her words be expunged from the parliamentary record. The Speaker's caution and Priyanka Gandhi's response As the uproar grew, the Speaker cautioned Priyanka Gandhi that nothing should be said in the House without facts to back it. In response, she held up a newspaper clipping in the chamber and said she was ready to have it authenticated. She then asked pointedly whether Pralhad Joshi was denying having made the statement she was citing. Questions over the Radhakrishnan Committee and the RSS's role Priyanka Gandhi alleged that the new law being brought by the government contains no concrete, workable measures to stop paper leaks. She said the recommendations of the Radhakrishnan Committee have still not been implemented, while the newly formed committees include people who lack a genuine, deep understanding of education. She demanded that educational institutions and the wider system be staffed with capable, hardworking young people instead of being filled with people linked to the RSS, saying the country's youth are seeking justice, not charity. The theft of dreams and a plea to win back Gen-Z's trust Turning her attack directly on the government, Priyanka Gandhi said that a bigger theft than a stolen vote in an election or a stolen donation at a temple is the theft of the nation's young people's dreams. She urged the Prime Minister to take responsibility for it and to work at winning back the trust of the country's Gen-Z youth. A lighter moment amid the sparring During her speech, Priyanka Gandhi urged the Speaker to smile, saying, "We in the Congress will lay down our lives, but we will not let India lose. Sir, at least smile now." Kiren Rijiju responded with a jibe, saying she had borrowed the lines from Rahul Gandhi's speech. The government later formally reiterated its demand that her remarks about Pralhad Joshi be expunged from the official parliamentary record. What this means for you • For students: Millions of aspirants preparing for exams like NEET have a stake in knowing how the debate over the new anti-paper-leak law is unfolding in Parliament and whether it includes concrete safeguards. • Accountability going forward: The questions raised in the House could add pressure to raise education spending and tighten transparency in the exam system. Questions & Answers 1. Who did Priyanka Gandhi target in the Lok Sabha? Without naming him, she targeted Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, alleging he had welcomed the release of convicts in a rape case. 2. What did Kiren Rijiju demand? He called the remark unparliamentary and demanded that Priyanka Gandhi unconditionally apologise to the House and that her words be expunged. 3. What law was being debated when this happened? The debate was over the government's new, stringent anti-paper-leak law, brought in after the NEET paper leak. 4. What caution did the Speaker give Priyanka Gandhi? The Speaker said nothing should be said in the House without facts, after which Priyanka Gandhi showed a newspaper clipping and offered to have it authenticated. 5. What experience did Priyanka Gandhi recount from RML Hospital? She said an injured student's mother asked her if those responsible for her daughter's condition had also visited her, which left Priyanka Gandhi deeply ashamed. 6. What jibe did Kiren Rijiju make at Priyanka Gandhi? He said she had borrowed the lines from Rahul Gandhi's speech. https://trendkia.com/en/politics/snsada-men-priyanka-gandhi-ki-eka-tippani-para-macha-bavala-kiren-rijiju-ne-mangi-maphi-spikara-ne-bhi-di-nasihata-11443 TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.