‘BJP helped Prajwal Revanna flee’: Priyank Kharge on sexual abuse case against JD(S) MP

The Congress has hit out at the JD(S)-BJP coalition in Karnataka, stating that the saffron party helped JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, who has been booked in a sexual harassment case filed by his former house help, flee the country. Prajwal, sitting MP from Hassan Lok Sabha constituency, fled to Germany on Sunday after “obscene” video clips began to circulate. 

Prajwal Revanna is the BJP-JD(S) alliance’s candidate from Hassan, which went to polls on Friday. 

Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge said: “They (BJP) ensured that he fled the country. Today, if he’s left the country as the rumours are being floated, then how did he leave the country? Who facilitated it? I’m directly blaming the BJP on this front.”

He also questioned the BJP-JDS alliance for fielding Prajwal Revanna,  despite being aware of his conduct. He added that there were “thousands of victims” abused by the MP. “Despite being aware of Prajwal’s antecedents, the BJP went ahead and gave him the ticket. the BJP functionaries had written letters against Prajwal,” Kharge said.

He questioned the silence of the BJP on the issue, stating that “they were so quick to capitalise on the Hubballi murder case. “Why are they so silent now? Why aren’t they protesting in every town?” he questioned. 

#WATCH | Kalaburagi: On 'obscene videos' case involving JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge says, "Despite knowing the fact that the Hassan MP (Prajwal Revanna) was known for such antecedents, despite letters being received by them from BJP functionaries,… pic.twitter.com/ywxqhMQafg

— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2024

The Karnataka government on Sunday constituted a Special Investigation Team to probe an alleged sex scandal involving Prajwal following a letter by the Chairperson of the Women’s Commission Dr Nagalakshmi Chowdhary to the government.

The JD(S) leadership has tried to distance themselves from the incident. Party chief H D Kumaraswamy on Sunday said he would like to wait for the facts to come out of the investigation but asserted that there is no question of forgiving anyone who has committed a crime as per law. 

He, however, denied involvement in Prajwal leaving the country and said it was the responsibility of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to get him back if required.

Karnataka Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar too hit out against the BJP leadership, accusing Karnataka BJP chief B Y Vijayendra of being aware of the video clip. 

“BJP leader Devarajegowda wrote a letter to BY Vijayendra. When Amit Shah came to Mysuru, BJP leaders Preetham Gowda and AT Ramaswamy advised against an alliance with the JD(S). Despite this, Amit Shah, J P Nadda and PM Modi decided to move ahead with the alliance,” Hebbalkar said, and questioned whether the BJP would continue its alliance with JD(S).