HD Kumaraswamy Labels Prajwal Revanna Scandal Shameful Amid JD(S) Expulsion Talks

HD Kumaraswamy, the leader of Janata Dal (Secular), emphasized on Tuesday that the party would not shield his nephew Prajwal Revanna in the wake of the scandal involving obscene videos allegedly involving the Hassan MP in Karnataka.

Terming it a "shameful issue," HD Kumaraswamy stated to reporters, "...We are not going to protect him, we will take severe action but the government's responsibility is more. Not only as an uncle but as a common man of the country, we have to move further. I am not protecting any person. We have fought against these kinds of illegal things. This is a serious issue. Who is running the government, they have to expose the real picture and the ground reality has to be exposed by the govt and not me..."

HD Kumaraswamy's recent statement comes at a time when Prajwal Revanna is facing suspension over allegations of sexual abuse of several women. HD Kumaraswamy had announced on Monday that the party had decided to suspend Prajwal Revanna.

The former chief minister also aimed to distance JD(S)'s coalition partner BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the case, amid criticism from the ruling Congress demanding their stance on the issue.

On Monday, HD Kumaraswamy had stated that there was no question of defending Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna, and the party would take "merciless action" if the Special Investigation Team's probe substantiates the charges.

Amid the political uproar over allegations of sexual harassment against Prajwal Revanna and his father, MLA HD Revanna - the grandson and son of former prime minister HD Deve Gowda respectively - the JD(S) has called for a crucial core committee meeting in Hubbali on Tuesday. The party is considering either suspending or expelling them.

Prajwal Revanna is the BJP-JD(S) alliance's candidate from Hassan, which went to the polls on April 26. Former chief minister Kumaraswamy, who is also the state JD(S) chief, strongly objected to the names of his father and former prime minister HD Deve Gowda, among other family members, being drawn into the controversy.