BJP will not remain with those who commit crimes against women: Amit Shah in Karnataka

Shah, speaking for the first time on the issue, hit out at CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D K Shivakumar, asking why no action was initiated against Prajwal before the elections were over in the Vokkaliga belt, “despite being aware of the allegations”.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Haveri, Wednesday. PTI

Amid the raging controversy over allegations of sexual abuse against JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, which has embarrassed the party and put the BJP-JD(S) in a spot, Union Home Minister Amit Shah Wednesday made it clear Wednesday in Hubballi that his party would not stand with those who commit atrocities against women.

Shah, speaking for the first time on the issue, hit out at CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D K Shivakumar, asking why no action was initiated against Prajwal before the elections were over in the Vokkaliga belt, “despite being aware of the allegations”.

Although Prajwal was a member of BJP’s alliance partner in Karnataka, Shah, without naming Prajwal, said, “the party will not stand with him. Our stand is clear. BJP cannot remain with those who commit atrocities against women. Whoever he might be, let him be punished without any delay. If you (Congress) have the courage, initiate action immediately. He fled the country only because of you (Congress) and now you are doing politics.”

Later, Shah met the family of Neha Hiremath, 23, a first-year student of Masters in Computer Application, who was stabbed to death on her college campus, allegedly by her former classmate Fayaz Khondunaik on April 18. Blaming the state government for the allegedly deteriorating law and order situation, Shah said, “If you cannot protect women, leave it to us. We will make Karnataka a safe place for women.”

Hiremath’s family also submitted a petition seeking capital punishment for the accused.

Reacting to Shah’s attack, Siddaramaiah said on X, “Dear HM @AmitShah avare, thanks for finally expressing outrage in the #PrajwalRevanna matter. You have also said you don’t condone violence against women even if it is done by an ally of yours. One is tempted to believe you, but your conduct in the past has shown that talk is cheap: Can we forget how Olympian Girls were sexually harassed by your MP? Who did you stand with? Your MP, of course, and you let the women athletes sit in protests on the streets of Delhi for weeks. Can we forget how rapist convicts of the Bilkis Bano were released on parole by the Gujarat BJP government and your party men garlanded them? Can we forget how your party stood behind the perpetrators in the Unnao case, where a minor Dalit girl was raped and murdered? Can we forget how your party defended the perpetrators of rape in Hathras? Can we forget how BJP turned a blind eye when women were made to parade naked in Manipur?”