Prajwal Revanna has denied all allegations, countering them by filing a complaint claiming that the explicit videos, purportedly filmed by Revanna, are “doctored”.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has strongly criticised the Congress-led government in Karnataka for its alleged inaction concerning the disturbing videos purportedly showing NDA candidate Prajwal Revanna, grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, sexually assaulting multiple women. Shah said that the BJP”s call for a thorough investigation into the matter.
In a press meet this morning, Shah reiterated the BJP”s unwavering support for “matrushakti” (the strength of mothers or women).
“The BJP”s stand is clear that we stand with the “matrushakti” of the country. I want to ask Congress, whose government is there? The government is of Congress Party. Why they have not taken any action till now? We do not have to take action on this as this is a law and order issue of the state, state government has to take action on it,” he said.
“It is very serious, we cannot tolerate it. We want to ask Congress that despite being in power, why hasn”t the government acted yet? Priyanka (Gandhi Vadra) ji should ask their Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister,” said Shah.
Priyanka Gandhi had criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the sex scandal involving Prajwal Revanna, highlighting the irony of his association with PM Modi during the campaign despite facing such serious accusations.
“The individual (Prajwal Revanna) who stood alongside Prime Minister Modi, for whom the PM solicited votes, stands accused of abusing thousands of women. The numbers are staggering. I want to know Modi’s response to this. I am keen to hear what the Union home minister has to say,” she said.
Drawing attention to PM Modi”s recent contentious remarks about the Congress allegedly snatching women’s mangalsutras if it comes to power, Priyanka Gandhi encouraged women to assert their concerns. “I ask the women to stand up and question. Prime Minister Modi should not talk about anyone’s Mangalsutra until this criminal is brought back,” she added.
Prajwal Revanna, the sitting MP from Karnataka”s Hassan constituency, is seeking a fresh term in this election. The JD(S), which joined the NDA before the elections, has made efforts to distance the BJP from the scandal.
The alleged videos implicating him emerged on Saturday, a day after his constituency went to the polls. Following this, he fled to Germany, pending investigation into the accusations against him.
The police filed a case of sexual harassment and stalking against him, while the Karnataka government has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter. G Parameshwara, the Karnataka Home Minister, has said that the SIT will summon him back to India for questioning.
Revanna has denied all allegations, countering them by filing a complaint claiming that the explicit videos, purportedly filmed by Revanna, are “doctored”.
One woman has stepped forward, lodging a police complaint against Prajwal Revanna, alleging instances of sexual assault spanning from 2019 to 2022. She claims that Revanna also misbehaved with her daughter during a video call and had “vulgar conversations” with her.
Accusations have also been directed at Prajwal”s father, HD Revanna, the Holenarasipur MLA. The woman alleged that Prajwal”s father HD Revanna also sexually assaulted her when his wife was not at home.
HD Revanna has accused political rivals of creating a conspiracy out of “old videos”.
The Karnataka government”s decision to establish an SIT followed a recommendation from the state women”s commission, spurred by the receipt of a pen drive containing numerous explicit videos, implicating Prajwal Revanna.
BJP Leader Devaraje Gowda, a candidate for Holenarsipura during the 2023 Assembly elections, claims to have raised concerns with the state president in December last year regarding serious allegations against the HD Deve Gowda family, including Prajwal Revanna. He alleges receiving a pen drive containing 2,976 explicit videos of women, purportedly used for blackmailing them into continued sexual abuse.
