BJP Under Scrutiny: Opposition Questions PM Modi's Silence as Revanna Scandal Intensifies in Karnataka

Hassan- As the Revanna scandal continues to grip Karnataka's political landscape with allegations of molestation and sexual assault, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) finds itself under intense scrutiny and criticism.

The BJP is contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha election in Karnataka in alliance with the Janata Dal (Secular), led by former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and his son HD Kumaraswamy. The JDS has got candidates in Hassan (Prajwal R), Mandya (HD Kumaraswamv). and Bengaluru rural (CN Maniunath).

The controversy surrounding Deve Gowda's grandson Prajwal Revanna, the incumbent MP and JD(S) candidate for Hassan Lok Sabha seat, has sparked widespread outrage, prompting questions about the BJP's alliance and the government's response to the allegations.

MP Prajwal Revanna was booked in a sexual harassment case on Sunday following complaints by his former house help.  FIR has been filed against Prajwal Revanna and his father HD Kumaraswamy in connection with the case. As per the complaint, the victim has claimed that both the father and son sexually assaulted her. Prajwal Revanna, reportedly left for Germany after polling on April 26.

Amidst the escalating scandal, opposition voices have grown louder, with many questioning how the BJP could endorse a candidate facing such serious accusations. The public outcry has been particularly pronounced on social media platforms, where users have expressed shock and dismay at the perceived impunity afforded to individuals accused of crimes against women.

In the midst of this fervor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent rally in Belagavi has come under renewed scrutiny. While addressing the crowd on April 28, Prime Minister Modi refrained from addressing the allegations against Prajwal Revanna, choosing instead to focus on political rhetoric and emotive topics.

During his speech, Prime Minister Modi maintained a familiar narrative, accusing the Congress party of engaging in divisive politics and making provocative claims about their intentions regarding women's mangalsutras. However, his silence on the grave allegations of sexual abuse against Prajwal Revanna has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition and the public alike.

In a scathing social media post, Chittapur MLA and Minister for Panchayati Raj, Priyank Kharge, has taken aim at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding answers amidst the escalating Revanna scandal in Karnataka.

Kharge's post, shared on his handle, begins with a pointed "Welcome to Karnataka once again," setting the stage for a direct confrontation over the BJP's handling of the crisis. Rather than mincing words, Kharge launches into a series of questions aimed squarely at the Prime Minister, challenging him to address the truth behind the allegations plaguing the state.

The post accuses the BJP of diverting attention from critical issues by fabricating narratives about topics such as mangalsutras, Muslim reservations, and manifestos. Instead, Kharge urges the Prime Minister to confront the uncomfortable reality of why the BJP chose to endorse a JDS candidate for the Hassan parliamentary ticket, despite being aware of allegations of abuse against hundreds of women.

Congress leader Pawan Khera asked if the BJP knew about Prajwal Revanna, then why it formed an alliance with the Janata Dal (Secular). He also asked who had helped Revanna in escaping to Germany.

Anti-rape activist Yogita Bhayana took to her social media handle to express her outrage. In her post, she questioned how such a serious criminal could escape justice. Bhayana highlighted the emergence of several obscene videos allegedly linked to Revanna and pointed out that numerous cases of sexual assault and rape, involving approximately 2700 women, have been registered against him. She expressed disbelief at Revanna's apparent disappearance, stating that he has allegedly fled to Germany. Bhayana emphasized the gravity of the situation and called attention to the urgent need for accountability and justice.

Advocate Danish Ali's social media post condemns the silence surrounding the Revanna scandal in Karnataka, alleging hundreds of cases of sexual harassment involving Prajwal Revanna. Ali criticizes both the media and Prime Minister Modi for their perceived complicity and indifference to the issue. He accuses the media of silence and Modi of speaking out selectively on issues, calling for accountability and justice.

This is not the first time Prime Minister Modi has faced backlash for his silence on issues of gender-based violence. In recent months, he has been repeatedly targeted for his perceived inaction in response to incidents such as sexual violences in Manipur and various rape cases across the country.

With the Revanna scandal thrusting the issue back into the spotlight, opposition parties have seized upon the opportunity to once again question the Prime Minister's commitment to addressing crimes against women.

What is the Revanna scandal?

The Revanna scandal in Karnataka revolves around allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse against Prajwal Revanna. A 47-year-old woman, formerly employed as a house help at Prajwal Revanna's residence, has accused him and his father, HD Revanna, of sexually assaulting and harassing female workers. She detailed instances where HD Revanna allegedly summoned women to a storeroom, touched them inappropriately, and sexually assaulted them by removing their saree pins.

The complainant stated, "After four months of joining, Revanna kept calling me to his room. There were six women workers in the house and everyone said that they were scared when Prajwal Revanna came home. The male workers in the house also alerted the women workers to be careful."

Amidst the turmoil, explicit video clips purportedly depicting Prajwal Revanna engaging in sexual activities with multiple women have circulated widely in Hassan district, intensifying the scandal's impact.

The controversy has sparked significant political unrest, with the Congress party staging protests and demanding Prajwal Revanna's immediate arrest. In response, the Karnataka government has ordered a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the allegations to ascertain the truth.

In his defense, Prajwal Revanna has claimed that the viral videos were doctored and has filed a complaint accordingly. However, reports suggest that he has left the country amidst the scandal, further deepening the intrigue surrounding the case.

A BJP leader in Karnataka has claimed that he wrote to the state's party president in December 2023 saying he received a pen drive with nearly 3,000 videos of women, including government officials, performing sexual acts and alleged that Janata Dal (Secular) MP Prajwal Revanna used the footage to blackmail the women.