Guwahati, April 30 (UNI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah targeted the Congress government in Karnataka during a press conference held here on Tuesday, calling out its sluggish approach to allegations of sexual misconduct involving Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) lawmaker Prajwal Revanna.

Shah left no room for ambiguity, squarely placing the onus on the Congress party, stating, "BJP stands firmly with the 'Matri Shakti' of our nation. It's crucial to question the Congress: Whose government currently reigns in Karnataka? The responsibility lies with them. Why the delay in taking necessary action?"

Despite being allies with the JDS, the BJP distanced itself from the issue, emphasising that it's primarily a matter for the state government to handle.

Shah disclosed that a meeting of the JDS core committee would convene on Tuesday to deliberate on the party’s response to the allegations against Prajwal.

The situation has been compounded by earlier warnings issued by Devaraje Gowda, a party leader from Hassan district, regarding allegations of sexual abuse against Prajwal, which were raised months before his candidacy was announced for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Hassan.

Allegations against Prajwal include the dissemination of obscene videos purportedly depicting sexual assault.

Prajwal, who left the country amid the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the allegations, vehemently denied the accusations, labelling the videos as fabricated attempts to tarnish his reputation.

Last year, he sought legal intervention to prevent the dissemination of these videos.

A recent development saw an FIR lodged against both HD Revanna and Prajwal by a woman who worked at their residence, alleging multiple instances of sexual abuse spanning from 2019 to 2022. The complaint paints a troubling picture of a pattern of sexual harassment against female workers in their homes.

Consequently, the police have registered a case under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 354A (sexual harassment), 354D (stalking), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 509 (outraging modesty of a woman).

The allegations have triggered significant political turmoil in Karnataka, underscoring broader concerns about the safety and security of women within political spheres.

As investigations progress, pressure is mounting on authorities to ensure that justice is served and to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

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