Rahul Gandhi avoids debate in Parliament, makes political statements on foreign soil: Pralhad Joshi

New Delhi: Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi on Thursday slammed Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi for his "continued disregard" for parliamentary institutions and said he repeatedly avoids meaningful debate in the House while choosing to make political statements on foreign soil.

Joshi said the Congress demanded a discussion on paper leaks and a statement from Home Minister Amit Shah, to which the government agreed, but the opposition "chose to walk away".

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"Congress leader and LoP Rahul Gandhi's continued disregard for parliamentary institutions is deeply unfortunate. The disruption of the Monsoon Session reflects the arrogance of an individual who repeatedly avoids meaningful debate in Parliament and chooses to make political statements on foreign soil," Joshi said on X.

"Despite being rejected by the people 95 times, Congress leaders seem unwilling to learn from their repeated failures," Joshi said.

He described the conduct of Congress leaders as "deplorable" and a "disservice to parliamentary democracy".

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"Congress demanded a discussion and a statement from the Home Minister and the government agreed. Yet, when the opportunity arose, the very person who demanded it chose to walk away," the minister said.

Joshi was appointed as the Union Education Minister on July 26. He assumed the responsibility after Dharmendra Pradhan resigned from the post following nationwide student protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party over irregularities in the NEET-UG 2026 examination and the government's handling of the issue.

The NEET paper leak issue emerged as a key opposition plank.

The opposition also demanded a response from Home Minister Amit Shah over the police crackdown on student protesters during their Parliament march on July 20.