'Why BJP-JD(S) alliance still stands?' DK Shivakumar hits back at Amit Shah

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday hit back at Union Home Minister Amit Shah, asking why the BJP was still in alliance with the Janata Dal (Secular) despite knowing about MP Prajwal Revanna's alleged sex scandal.

Speaking to India Today TV, Shivakumar said, "JD(S) is not our (Congress) partner. It is you, Amit Shah ji, who has to tell whether you want to be associated with them (JDS). I can understand there were elections. But elections in these areas where you had given three seats or four seats to them are over. You have to speak whether you have to be with them or not."

"You stood together. You embraced each other. You knew everything... Why have you not taken action?" he added.

Shivakumar was reacting to Amit Shah's criticism of the Congress government in Karnataka for not taking timely action against Revanna.

"BJP's stand is clear that we stand with the 'Matri Shakti' of the country. I want to ask Congress whose government is there (Karnataka)? The government is of the Congress party. Why have they not taken any action till now? Priyanka Gandhi should ask their Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister," Amit Shah said at a press conference in Assam.

DK Shivakumar cited Karthik Gowda, the driver of Prajwal Gowda who exposed the sex scandal, saying that he only informed a BJP leader about the videos.

Devaraje Gowda, a BJP leader, had earlier claimed that Karthik informed him about the videos, and he had raised concerns within the party. He also claimed that the driver also shared the videos with DK Shivakumar, which was later denied by Karthik.

"He (Karthik) said that he had not given the videos to anyone except the BJP leader. Then you should ask them (BJP)," Shivakumar said.

DK Shivakumar further said that as soon as the Karnataka government was made aware of the case by the Women's Commission, they took action.

"The Women's Commission wrote to the Chief Minister and he acted immediately. But we did not allow someone to flee the country. I am requesting you, where is your intelligence? When your party (member) gave a letter to you, you just closed your eyes. You are only looking at one or two seats. I am telling you, even that number also will not come," Shivakumar said.

Prajwal Revanna, the grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, is the BJP-JD(S) joint candidate on Hassan Lok Sabha seat. He left the country after nearly 3,000 videos allegedly depicting him sexually abusing multiple women started doing the rounds on social media.