During a press conference in Belagavi, Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala accused the PM and leaders of the Janata Dal (Secular) of “protecting a mass rapist“, claiming that PM Modi was aware of the matter but still allied with the JD(S).
“Our message in this case is clear and simple. PM Modi and JD(S) leaders are protecting a mass rapist. The PM was aware that the candidate of his party and an ally is a serial abuser of thousands of women. A BJP leader in December 2023 approached PM Modi and Amit Shah with all the evidence,” Surjewala told reporters.
Surjewala the posed 10 questions to the BJP and JD(S), including why the BJP joined hands with the JD(S), made Prajwal Revanna a candidate, and allowed him to flee the country despite knowing about the allegations. He also questioned the lack of action from the central government in bringing Revanna back to India and canceling his diplomatic passport.
10 questions posed by Congress:
- Why did BJP join hands with the Janata Dal (Secular)?
- Why did BJP make him a candidate of the BJP-JD(S) alliance?
- Why did PM Modi visit Hassan and raise his hands saying Prajwal Revanna’s win will give him more strength?
- Why did PM Modi, uniond home minister Amit Shah, the BJP and JD(S) hide this truth about Prajwal Revanna even after knowing everything?
- When Prajwal Revanna was trying to fly out of India, didn’t PM Modi’s external affairs ministry or the passport control board know that a mass rapist is fleeing the country? Why did PM Modi and Amit Shah allow him to flee?”
- The SIT wrote to the CBI and the Modi government on bringing him back wherever he is, why hasn’t Modi or Amit Shah responded to it?
- The chief minister wrote to Modi to cancel Prajwal Revanna’s diplomatic passport, why hasn’t it been done yet?
- Our SIT wrote to the CBI, requesting it to ask Interpol to issue a blue-corner notice so that we know where he is. Why did PM Modi not do this?”
- If a mass rapist flees the country, who should take the onus of bringing him back? Is it the state or the central government? If its the central government, then what has Modi and Shah been doing other than accusing Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar? Why are they not telling the truth?
- Why is Prime Minister Modi so afraid to question Prajwal Revanna?
The Congress leader emphasized that Rahul Gandhi has sought justice for the victims and urged PM Modi and Shah to answer the “10 questions”.
Meanwhile, HD Revanna, Prajwal Revanna’s father, was taken into custody by Special Investigation Team (SIT) officials in connection with a kidnapping case related to the alleged obscene video case.
Karnataka home minister G Parameshwara stated that the SIT has been given full freedom to deliver justice and that a blue-corner notice has been issued to locate Prajwal Revanna, who is currently claimed to be in Germany.
Deputy CM DK Shivakumar declined to comment on the matter, stating that the law will take its course.
Earlier this month, Amit Shah had criticised the ruling Congress government in Karnataka for allegedly delaying action in the case, stating that the BJP stands with the ‘Matr Shakti’ of the country. He questioned why the Congress government had not taken any action yet, emphasising that it is a law and order issue that the state government must address.
(With inputs from agencies)