Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy on Monday said that the party has decided to suspend his nephew and Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna over his involvement in the alleged sex scandal.
“A decision was already made. Tomorrow it is to be recommended at the core committee meeting in Hubballi. Because he (Prajwal) is a Member of Parliament, it has to be done from Delhi. So I had requested Deve Gowda (JD(S) National President and former PM). Neither he (Gowda) nor I were aware of this issue,” Kumaraswamy claimed.
Speaking to reporters, the former Karnataka chief minister said, “Some issues that have come out, on the basis of that it has been decided yesterday itself to suspend (him). But many were in a hurry.”
Amid attacks from the state’s Congress-led government, seeking their response on the issue, Kumaraswamy also sought to distance JD(S)’s alliance partner Bharatiya Janata Party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the case.
Prajwal Revanna is also the BJP-JD(S) alliance candidate from the Hassan constituency, which went to polls in the first of the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections on April 26.
Earlier in the day, Kumaraswamy had said, “My party and my stand is the same, that whoever has done wrong should be punished.”
Talking about the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter, HDK also asked about “Who released the pen drive three days back? What was the reason?”. The pen drives contained the alleged explicit video clips that showed Prajwal indulging in sexual acts with several women.
He said that an old matter has been opened up now, asking “Why didn’t they bring it up back then?”
“So far, there are no direct allegations against Prajwal Revanna. If the charges are true…punishment should happen in accordance with law. There is no compromise. If Prajwal Revanna is wrong, our family is in agreement for action to be taken against him,” Kumaraswamy said.
He had also said that there was no space for any questions about defending Prajwal Revanna, adding that the party would take “merciless action” if the SIT probe proves the charges against the Hassan MP.
Kumaraswamy Defends BJP, PM Modi, Slams Congress
The former Karnataka CM also defended the BJP and PM Modi amid the Congress’ attempt to target them over the issue. He asked, “Did Modi come for Prajwal Revanna’s campaigning? What does Modi have to do with this case? What does the BJP have to do with this? Why link this with them? What does Deve Gowda (former PM) or Kumaraswamy have to do with this?”
He expressed strong discontent over the involvement of his father and former Prime Minister Deve Gowda’s name, along with some other family members.
He hit back at the Congress and asked them why they are bringing family into it. Discuss about the individual, he said, an individual and his deeds are in question here, not the family… why bring the family’s name, Deve Gowda’s name or Kumaraswamy’s name?
“I have myself said whoever has committed the mistake has to undergo punishment,” he said, “Wrong is wrong, irrespective of who has committed it.”
PRAJWAL REVANNA’S WHEREABOUTS
The statement from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s office, which announced the formation of the SIT, also said the police have information that Prajwal has left the country.
“What should I say, if you ask me? Will he ask me and go anywhere… They, the government, will take action,” Kumaraswamy replied to a question over Prajwal’s whereabouts.
MATTER OF INDIVIDUAL’S BACKGROUND
The JD(S) leader noted that the topic of where did the party and the Revanna family come to know about this matter is different. Those are completely separate. “If it had to come to our notice we could have taken action and stopped this embarrassment from happening. This matter is about an individual’s background,” Kumaraswamy said, asking that “can we watch where he goes or comes every day? Is it in our hands?”
POLITICAL CONSPIRACY OR NOT?
Responding to a reporter’s question, Kumaraswamy agreed that there is also a probability of this being a political controversy. “Let’s see. Let the SIT report come out. It is being said that the pen-drive (containing video clips) has been circulated. Some experts are behind it, let it come out,” he said.
While expressing his faith in the SIT and the government’s fair investigation, he said that such incidents shouldn’t be happening.
NO IMPACT IN ELECTIONS, HASSAN CANDIDATE WILL WIN
He asserted that the incident will have no affect on the party in the Lok Sabha polls, saying “In Hassan, the candidate will win. This will not affect us in the election. Here there is no matter of family.”
Prajwal will win with a “good margin”, Kumaraswamy said confidently while also noting that this matter in the last few days has led to state-wide discussion.
CASE A ‘CONSPIRACY’, SAYS HD REVANNA
Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna’s father and JD(S) leader HD Revanna called the alleged sex scandal case to be a “conspiracy” and confirmed that his son has gone abroad.
The MLA from Karnataka’s Holenarasipura and son of former PM HD Deve Gowda said that it would be the decision of the JD(S) to expel Prajwal. He added that the videos which are being circulated are four-five years old.
“I know what kind of conspiracy is going on. I am not someone who will get scared and run away. They have released something that was 4-5 years old. Expelling him from the party is left to the party high command. The State government is theirs. Let them investigate,” the JD(S) leader said.
ATROCITIES AGAINST WOMEN HIGHLY CONDEMNABLE: BJP
The BJP’s Karnataka unit took to microblogging site X and said, “Atrocities against women are highly condemnable. It is our stand that whoever is guilty, appropriate legal action should be taken against them.”
“It is highly condemnable that the Congressmen are standing on the streets and demanding justice for the victims even though they have their own government,” the saffron party said.
The BJP asked, “Congressmen, who stopped you from demanding an immediate transparent probe into the case by the Chief Minister and Home Minister…??”
THE CASE
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah had ordered a SIT probe into the alleged sex scandal on Sunday. Video clips allegedly showing Prajwal Revanna indulging in sexual acts with several women including a few government employees following whivh, the Karnataka State Commission for Women asked the chief minister to set up a special investigation team.
The Women’s Commission said that it also has cases allegedly involving women being forced or filmed without their consent.
(With PTI inputs)
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