Former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, in a veiled attack on Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, stirred political controversy while recalling the storm around the Prajwal Revanna sex scandal.
“For three months, the media camped day and night outside my house from 6 am to 10 pm. Who instigated all of that? You all saw those days yourselves. You know very well the force that was behind it,” Gowda said at a press conference at J.P. Bhavan, indirectly pointing fingers at Shivakumar.
The remarks came in the backdrop of former JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna’s conviction, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in one of the cases linked to the infamous sex CD and rape scandal. While Revanna alleged the charges were part of a conspiracy to block his political career, the issue continues to cast a shadow over Karnataka politics.
Gowda also addressed Shivakumar’s claim that the Gowda-Kumaraswamy family wants to send him to jail. Responding calmly, Gowda said, “JD(S) is a small political party. We will work beyond our strength to sustain our party. I will not speak about Shivakumar. Ever since he contested elections against me 20 years ago, I have not talked about him, and I will not now either.”
On the Bidadi township project, Gowda added that he is aware of farmers’ opposition to land acquisition. “The Congress is in power. People must give their verdict during elections. Until then, we must wait,” he said.
