New Delhi:

Amid an uproar in the Rajya Sabha over the NEET issue, senior JD(S) leader HD Deve Gowda on Friday appealed to the opposition to let the House function smoothly and said the government cannot fix responsibility until the probe in the matter is completed.

Rajya Sabha witnessed chaotic scenes as opposition members demanding a discussion on the alleged irregularities in the conduct of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) raised slogans and entered the Well of the House during the discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address.

Intervening during the discussion, Mr Gowda said lakhs of students have been affected because of the alleged irregularities in the conduct of the medical entrance exam.

“I do not want to take sides. The government has taken the right decision (to order a CBI probe),” the former prime minister said.

He said the investigation is not yet complete and the government cannot fix responsibility until it is completed. He appealed to the opposition members to let the House function smoothly. However, the protesting members did not relent.

BJP leader Sudhanshu Trivedi, who initiated the discussion on the Motion of Thanks, said it was unfortunate that the opposition was continuing with its protests and sloganeering despite an appeal for order by a senior member like Mr Gowda. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Karnataka lawmaker Prajwal Revanna – who fled to Germany last month, shortly after horrific sex crimes allegations by women who said he forced them into sexual acts – released a statement Monday, claiming comments and “political drama” by opposition leaders, including Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, “drove me to depression and I was pushed into isolation”. 

“I apologise to my parents… I was in depression. I will come (back to India) and appear before the SIT (a special investigative team set up by the state government) on May 31 (Friday),” Revanna said.

“I will cooperate to the best of my abilities and provide all answers. I have full faith in the legal system (and) I will come out of these false cases against me. I have the blessings of God and my family…”

On May 1, four days after he fled the country, Revanna posted a message on X. He said, “I am not in Bengaluru… I have communicated (to the police) through my lawyer. The truth will prevail soon.”

Revanna is a Janata Dal (Secular) leader and the grandson of party patriarch and ex-Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, and nephew of senior leader and ex-Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy.

He is also the sitting MP from Karnataka’s Hassan Lok Sabha seat, which he has been nominated to defend in the 2024 general election. The JDS is allied with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP.

Revanna’s message – his first public comment on charges against him – comes after a warning from Deve Gowda, who told his grandson to return home and surrender “or face your family’s anger”.

READ | “Surrender Or Face My Anger”: Deve Gowda To Grandson Revanna

Deve Gowda said he had warned Revanna to “not test my patience” and that it took him time to recover from the “shock and pain”. The former Prime Minister – targeted by the ruling Congress, former allies turned political rivals, over claims it was he sent Revanna abroad – stressed he had called for “the harshest punishment under the law” for his grandson “if (he is) found guilty…”

I have issued a warning to @iPrajwalRevanna to return immediately from wherever he is and subject himself to the legal process. He should not test my patience any further. pic.twitter.com/kCMuNJOvAo

— H D Deve Gowda (@H_D_Devegowda) May 23, 2024

Revanna’s uncle, HD Kumaraswamy, has also made an appeal.

READ | “If You Have Respect…”: HD Kumaraswamy’s Appeal To Revanna

The ex-Chief Minister last week also appealed to his nephew. “I have openly appealed to him… told him, ‘if you have respect for the party and Deve Gowda, come back…’ Cooperate with the probe. If you have not done anything prove it. If you have, then face the punishment,” Revanna was told.

READ | Deve Gowda Sent Grandson Abroad: Siddaramaiah On Ex-PM’s Letter

Revanna’s return home may be complicated by the fact the Ministry of External Affairs is set to cancel his diplomatic passport. A request to this effect has been made by the state government.

The centre is in the process of cancelling the travel document, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said. Mr Jaishankar also took the chance for a jibe against Karnataka’s ruling Congress, declaring the request to cancel the passport was made only on May 21, several days after the scandal broke.

NDTV Analysis | Systemic Failure In Not Forcing Revanna To Face Law

The Congress and the BJP have attacked each other over the Revanna case.

The former has pointed to the alliance between the BJP and the JDS to claim Prajwal Revanna is being shielded, while the latter has criticised the state government for delayed reactions.

Prajwal Revanna – who faces an arrest warrant from a MP/MLA court – has denied all charges.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has claimed that former prime minister HD Deve Gowda helped his grandson Janata Dal Secular MP Prajwal Revanna flee to Germany last month amid allegations of sexual assault.

“I think Deve Gowda himself sent Prajwal. The letter now written by him is only for public consumption,” he said, taking a swipe at a public letter shared by the former PM on Thursday, warning his grandson to surrender or face the “anger of the family.”

In his letter, shared on X, the former PM said he had warned his grandson to return to India “immediately” and not to “test my patience any further.”

“I spoke to the media about Prajwal Revanna on 18 May when I was headed to the temple to offer pooja. It took me some time to recover from the shock and pain he has inflicted on me, my entire family, my colleagues, friends and party workers. I have already said that he should be given the harshest punishment under the law if found guilty. My son and former Karnataka Chief Minister, Shri. H.D Kumaraswamy, has advocated this line since the day the scandal broke,” he wrote.

Over the past month, Siddaramaiah has written several letters to PM Modi, urging the Centre to cancel his diplomatic passport, which he allegedly used to flee the country. “He has abused his diplomatic privileges to flee the country and to escape criminal proceedings,” Siddaramaiah said.

The 33-year-old NDA candidate from Karnataka’s Hassan had left the country on April 27, a day after polls concluded in the constituency.

Revanna, has been accused of sexually assaulting several women and filming the act, sparking widespread outrage. Several videos of the alleged assaults surfaced last month after which Karnataka police’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) began a probe in the case.

A Blue Corner notice, which enables Interpol to share alerts and requests for information worldwide,  has been issued to track Revanna.

Bengaluru:

Denying charges that Congress is politicising the alleged obscene video scandal involving Prajwal Revanna, the grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said that his government is simply “amplifying the voices of victims.”

Accused by the BJP of pursuing “appeasement politics” through Muslim reservation, Mr Siddaramaiah spoke to the news agency IANS ahead of phase three of the Lok Sabha elections that will see voting taking place in 14 constituencies in the state on May 7.

Here are the excerpts from the interview:

Is Congress politicising the Prajwal Revanna case ahead of the third phase of polls?

Mr Siddaramaiah: Our commitment to justice for the victims should not be misconstrued as politicising the issue. We are not levying baseless or false allegations, we are simply amplifying the voices of the women who suffered at the hands of Prajwal Revanna. It is the BJP that endorsed his candidature and facilitated his evasion of accountability. How can our efforts to expose their complicity be considered politicising the matter?

BJP has slammed Congress for indulging in appeasement politics. Your take on this?

Mr Siddaramaiah: We do not engage in appeasement politics. Our approach is centred around inclusive development and equitable distribution of resources. Every community in our country should benefit from our nation’s progress. Our schemes are designed for everyone, not just one or two specific communities. Regrettably, the BJP consistently resorts to this narrative during elections. They aim to divide people along caste and religious lines to garner votes by fostering fear. If they were to focus solely on development issues, they would not secure a single vote.

Questions have been raised over the way the Neha Hiremath murder case has been handled, and the state government being accused of hushing up matters.

Mr Siddaramaiah: We have not compromised in our handling of the Neha Hiremath murder case. We are closely monitoring the situation, and justice will be served. This was a tragic incident, and understandably, it is profoundly challenging for her parents to come to terms with their loss. The entire state shares their sorrow. Rest assured, the perpetrator will receive no immunity.

BJP has been asking for the reason for not projecting Rahul Gandhi as the PM candidate.

Mr Siddaramaiah: The Congress party is committed to a model of collective leadership, focusing on decisions that prioritise the nation’s best interests. Our leadership, alongside Members of Parliament and leaders from the INDIA bloc, will collaboratively determine our Prime Ministerial candidate at the appropriate time — when we are in the position to form a government.

Congress is in the line of fire for issues like inheritance tax, Muslim reservation, and redistribution of wealth. BJP has said that the party’s intentions are very dangerous.

Mr Siddaramaiah: All I can say is that the BJP leaders have mastered the art of misinformation. Our policies are designed with a focus on inclusivity and fairness, aiming to benefit every citizen irrespective of their religious or social background.

These allegations of favouritism are not only baseless but also a deliberate attempt to mislead the public. I urge the media to rigorously fact-check the BJP’s claims and present the truth to people. It’s essential for the electorate to be informed accurately so they can make decisions based on facts rather than manipulated narratives.

Home Minister Amit Shah has alleged that there is an internal fight taking place between you and Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar. Is it true?

Mr Siddaramaiah: It is quite amusing to hear such claims from BJP leaders. We are united in our efforts, as demonstrated by our efficient governance and the effectiveness of our campaign, which clearly reflect our unity. Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar and I frequently collaborate on various issues, developing numerous policies together. We stand united in addressing the concerns of Kannadigas.

Do you think the Mahalaxmi Scheme will work in favour of the Congress party in Karnataka?

Mr Siddaramaiah: Absolutely, the Mahalakshmi Scheme will significantly impact the electorate. People are currently struggling with joblessness and rising prices, and the Mahalakshmi Scheme will provide the much-needed relief. Our Gruha Lakshmi scheme has already proven beneficial in mitigating the adverse effects of the BJP’s failures. Observing the benefits enjoyed by the people of Karnataka under the Gruha Lakshmi scheme, there is now a nationwide demand for the implementation of the Mahalakshmi Scheme.

You have claimed that the Congress will win 20 seats in Karnataka this time.

Mr Siddaramaiah: I am extremely confident that Congress will secure a minimum of 20 seats in Karnataka. This expectation is not a mere rhetoric, it is grounded in extensive surveys and reflects the prevailing mood of the populace. Nearly every family in Karnataka has benefitted from our guarantee schemes and there is considerable anticipation for our NYAY schemes as well. We have provided honest and efficient governance, which the people clearly appreciate and wish to see replicated at the national level.

Why should people vote for the Congress party?

Mr Siddaramaiah: People should vote for the Congress party because we are committed to inclusive and sustainable development that benefits all sections of society. Our focus is on providing transparent governance, implementing progressive policies that ensure economic growth, and safeguarding social justice. We have demonstrated a strong track record of delivering on our promises, such as improving healthcare, education, and infrastructure, while also introducing welfare schemes that directly support the needs of the underprivileged and marginalised communities. By voting for Congress, citizens are choosing a future that prioritises equality, opportunity, and integrity in leadership.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Bengaluru:

With the clock ticking for Lok Sabha election, the BJP has sealed the seat-sharing deal with the Janata Dal (Secular) in Karnataka. The HD Deve Gowda-led party, it is learnt, has managed to secure three seats as part of the seat-sharing arrangement.

The JDS will be contesting Karnataka’s Mandya, Hassan and Kolar seats, sources have said. Also, in Bengaluru rural, Mr Deve Gowda’s CN Manjunath, will contest on the BJP’s lotus symbol.

The announcement comes days after JDS leaders expressed their concerns to the party leadership after the BJP announced candidates for 20 out of the state’s 28 Lok Sabha seats.

In their meeting with former Prime Minister Deve Gowda and his son and senior JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy, the leaders said that the BJP leaders were not taking them into confidence in their planning for the upcoming election.

BJP leaders, they said, were not calling them to any meeting and that this was harmful for the party.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, the BJP had won 25 out of the state’s 28 seats, with the Congress and the JDS winning one each. Currently, the Congress is in power in the southern state after its thumping state polls win last year.

Out of the three seats the JDS has secured, Kolar is currently held by the BJP, Hassan by the JDS and Mandya by an Independent.

The seat-sharing talks between the JDS and BJP, it is learnt, had hit an impasse over the Kolar seat. The ruling Congress had taken a swipe, with Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar saying that the JDS is “embarrassed by its alliance with BJP” and that the regional party does not need an alliance to contest two seats.

Thiruvananthapuram:

A political row has erupted in Kerala over a statement by JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda a day ago that Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had greenlit his party’s alliance with the BJP in Karnataka to protect its interests. Kerala JD(S) leader, K Krishnankutty on Friday, firmly refuted Mr Gowda’s statement.

Opposing the national leadership’s association with the BJP, Mr Krishnankutty also emphasised the state unit’s commitment to maintaining its alliance with the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF).

“I met him (Deve Gowda) along with our state president, Mathew T Thomas, MLA, and informed him about our objection to joining the BJP. The state party unit stands by the earlier decision to stand firm with the Left party in Kerala,” Mr Krishnankutty, who is also a minister in the LDF government in Kerala, said.

The opposition Congress alleged that the JD(S) revelation had established an undercurrent between the ruling CPI(M) and the BJP in Kerala.

Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala today said this is further evidenced by Mr Krishnankutty’s continued presence in the cabinet.

The CPI(M) state leadership is yet to officially react on the issue.

Earlier, the Kerala JD(S) unit had rejected the central leadership’s decision to join the NDA, opting to stand firmly with the LDF in the state.

This decision was made clear after a state committee meeting held in Kochi on October 7, where JD(S) Kerala president Mathew T Thomas underscored that the high command’s announcement lacked prior discussion within any party forum.

On Thursday, Mr Gowda, a former Prime Minister, had asserted that all state units of the JD(S), including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Maharashtra, had provided their consent to align with the BJP.

“In Kerala, we are part of the government and our MLA is a minister there. These units understood the situation that made us to go with the BJP and supported our move. Our minister in the Left party’s government (K Krishnankutty) in Kerala has given consent to us,” he said.

“Kerala’s Left government’s Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has given full concurrence to move forward in Karnataka with the BJP to save the party. This is the position,” Mr Gowda claimed. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Bengaluru:

 Defying the Janata Dal (S) supremo H D Deve Gowda’s decision of his party’s alliance with the BJP for the Lok Sabha elections, the party’s Karnataka unit president C M Ibrahim on Monday said the JD(S) will not join the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.

Hinting at a possible split in the party, the former Union Minister claimed that his faction is the original JD(S) for being ‘secular’ and that being the state president he can take a decision about the outfit in Karnataka.

He appealed to former PM Gowda not to give his consent to the tie-up with the BJP because many people have quit the party in the neighbouring states.

“Our first decision is that the JD(S) will not go with the NDA. The second decision was a request to Deve Gowda that he should not give his consent to this alliance”, Ibrahim told reporters after a meeting with some party leaders.

He pointed to JD(S) leaders having quit the party in Kerala, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu after the BJP-JD(S) pact.

“In Karnataka, however, we still have affection for you. You are a father figure. We will tell him (Gowda) that we should not have any relation with the BJP,” Mr Ibrahim said.

Mr Ibrahim added that he would be forming a core committee, which will meet Deve Gowda and convey the decision taken at today’s meeting.

Calling his faction as the ‘original JD(S)’, Mr Ibrahim, who had served as Civil Aviation Minister in the H D Deve Gowda-led government at the Centre, said his faction is ‘secular’.

To a question on his future course of action if Gowda and his son H D Kumaraswamy did not agree with his decision, Ibrahim said, “I am the state president. I have to decide about my party in the state, which I will take. Already we have decided that we will not go with the BJP. What else is there more than this?” “If Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy have decided to go with the BJP then let them go”, he said.

“We are asking them (Gowda and Kumaraswamy) not to go. If they go then we cannot bind them. Regarding (JD-S) MLAs, please wait and see who, how many and where these MLAs will take a decision. We will intimate you when time comes,” the JD(S) state president said.

He claimed that many MLAs are in touch with him but declined to give their names.

“It will create pressure If I disclose their (MLA) names. I will also hold one-on-one meetings with the MLAs,” Mr Ibrahim said.

Former Chief Minister Kumaraswamy, who is JD(S) second-in-command, on September 22 agreed to be part of the NDA after meeting the Union Home Minister Amit Shah and party president J P Nadda in New Delhi.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Bengaluru:

The Janata Dal (Secular) rebuffed an approach by Nitish Kumar to merge with his Janata Dal (United) and join the INDIA opposition bloc, party patriarch HD Deve Gowda said today, two weeks after the Karnataka outfit allied with the BJP to contest next year’s general election.

Mr Deve Gowda said he was approached four months ago with a “Janata Freedom Front” proposal – to consist of ex-Janata Dal parties – but was told, “I don’t agree. I am not interested in national posts… am 91 and have seen how the Congress ditched me. I don’t want any experiments at this age. “

“… about three-four months back Nitish Kumar contacted me to form a front – JDU-JDS and even Samajwadi Party, with several groups of earlier Janata Dal wanted to form a Janata Freedom Front.”

“Nitish sent his party president and senior leaders to persuade me… but I did not agree. I told him, ‘if you feel like moving forward, then you can contact other parties’,” Mr Deve Gowda said.

Nitish Kumar’s JDU and the Congress are both in the INDIA bloc, as are a few other ex-Janata Dal parties, including the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Samajwadi Party.

The JDS outreach was likely part of several made to high-profile non-BJP leaders by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in his role as interlocutor for opposition unity ahead of the 2024 election.

Getting the JDS to come on board failed, Mr Deve Gowda seemed to indicate, due to tensions with the Congress. “They are thinking they will ‘finish’ JDS in Karnataka,” Mr Deve Gowda told NDTV. “Congress did no talking (with the JDS about INDIA).”

READ | “Have To Save Party In Karnataka”: HD Deve Gowda Defends JDS-BJP Alliance

Mr Deve Gowda also had sharp words for Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, “Congress’ Siddaramaiah… who I brought up in politics… said that if JDS comes, he will walk out.”

READ | “Are They Secular Now?”: Siddaramaiah’s Jibe At JDS Over Alliance With BJP

“I don’t want to discuss anymore. I have suffered,” he said as he chuckled over Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s 2018 jibe – that the JDS is the BJP’s ‘B team’. That jibe was repeated last week.

“No, RG gave ‘B team of BJP certificate’. Not (just) in last election but previous one also… “

READ |“BJP B-Team Now Officially Part of NDA”: Congress On Kumaraswamy’s Party

The JDS and Congress formed the government after the 2018 election. Mr Deve Gowda’s son, HD Kumaraswamy, was Chief Minister but they split soon after, after lawmakers joined the BJP.

Last month, the JDS joined the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance – in a move fiercely criticised by ex-allies Congress, which rushed to question its “secular credentials”.

READ |BJP, JDS Come Together In Karnataka Ahead Of Big 2024 Polls. NDTV Explains

The JDS was seen as nearing irrelevance after a third consecutive poor Assembly polls result; in the May election it won just 19 seats – down from 37 in 2018 and 40 five years earlier.

The Congress romped to victory in May, winning 135 of 224 seats to oust the BJP.

The BJP-JDS alliance has been questioned by some, including leaders within each party, but others see sense in allying with an outfit that still has sway in eight Lok Sabha segments and over Vokkalinga voters, including areas in which the Congress made inroads in the May poll.

Details about seat-sharing between the two have not yet been revealed. Mr Deve Gowda said these talks are to begin after Dussehra, which is on October 24. However, he was keen to underline his party remains secular and “won’t take lessons in so-called secularism”.

“We have enough experience… we know how to protect minorities and other marginalised sections. I don’t want to make tall claims but, in 60 years of my political career, I have done it to the best of my ability. We will never let down any minority group – not just Muslims.”

Bengaluru:

Four months ago, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Janata Dal (Secular) slumped to humiliating defeats in the Karnataka election. The BJP won just 66 seats and was ousted from power and the JDS was left, many thought, on the brink of irrelevance after winning only 19. The Congress claimed a thumping, and unexpected, win with 135 seats.

The 2024 Lok Sabha election in Karnataka now becomes crucial for both the BJP and the JDS, who have announced a pre-poll alliance but have not yet revealed seat-sharing details.

The BJP-JDS Tie-Up

Senior BJP leader BS Yediyurappa ‘broke’ the news last week and said the JDS would get four seats (of the state’s 28 Lok Sabha seats) as part of the deal. This was denied by BJP sources and later by JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy, who said “these have not yet been discussed”.

READ |Will They, Won’t They? On Talk Of BJP-JDS Deal In Karnataka, HD Kumaraswamy Says…

Mr Kumaraswamy, a two-time former Chief Minister and the son of JDS patriarch HD Deve Gowda, also played down reports his party had demanded the Mandya and Tumkur seats. He insisted no such demands had been made.

Why Does The BJP Want A JDS Alliance?

Statistically, the JDS’ results in the 2023 Assembly and 2019 Lok Sabha polls don’t make a deal a sensible option for the BJP. In the former it got less than 14 per cent of the votes – up from the nine-odd per cent four years earlier. And, in each election the BJP outscored the JDS. In 2023 it won 36 per cent of the votes and, in 2019, it swept the state.

READ | As Opposition Teams Up For Big 2024 Fight, BJP Plans A Pact In South

So why does this deal make sense for the BJP?

Because the JDS still has sway in eight Lok Sabha segments in the Old Mysuru region. These include Mandya, Hassan, Bengaluru (Rural) and Chikballapur – seats it allegedly wanted as part of the deal. It also includes Tumkur, the seat Mr Deve Gowda lost from in 2019.

2023 Karnataka Assembly Election Results

Also, the JDS’ influence over Vokkalinga voters will strengthen the BJP’s hand. And that may be the kicker, as the Congress is seen as having made successful inroads into the traditionally BJP-voting community.

What the BJP may also want to consider is that a tie-up on this ground didn’t seem to help the Congress in 2019; remember, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party still won 25 seats.

Ultimately, the BJP will hope a JDS tie-up brings back memories of its 2006 coalition.

JDS Remains Defiant

The trends do not worry Deve Gowda, who told reporters “we contacted Modiji, when BJP leaders expressed their desire to talk”. “… not for Deve Gowda to become Prime Minister again… to save this party I have nurtured for 40 years,” he said.

He also explained why he believes the BJP needs him. He admitted the latter has votes in the segments in which his party is seen as influential, but “BJP shouldn’t think JDS has nothing”.

There were also warnings for other seats. “In Bijapur and Raichur BJP can win only if you get my party’s strength… if not you cannot win. In Bidar and Chikkamagaluru too we have votes.”

NDTV’s June Report On BJP-JDS Alliance

In June, sources told NDTV of the possibility of a BJP-JDS alliance.

The BJP is now without a government in South India. The party was booted out of Tamil Nadu in 2021 and routed in Kerala. Both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have also proven resistant.

Of these states, Telangana votes for a new government later this year and the BJP is eager to have local footprints in each state as it builds back up ahead of next year’s mega election. With that in mind, the AIADMK alliance has been renewed and talks are also on with smaller Kerala parties. The BJP is already in a coalition government in Puducherry.

With input from agencies