Centre yet to respond on request to cancel Prajwal's diplomatic passport: G Parameshwara
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Wednesday said there is no response yet from the Centre regarding the request seeking cancellation of diplomatic passport of Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna, who is facing charges of sexual abuse of women, on the basis of an arrest warrant issued against him by a court.
He said it is the duty of the Centre to provide help within the framework of law, by cancelling the diplomatic passport.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up by the state government to probe the serial sex abuse charges against the MP, had written to the Ministry of External Affairs to cancel his diplomatic passport.
"Still nothing has come (from the Centre), the Centre also should help us, that's what we are urging. There is no meaning in only criticising, within the framework of law, the Centre should also help us," Parameshwara said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "the Chief Minister had written a letter to the Prime Minister seeking cancellation of the diplomatic passport (of Prajwal Revanna), but we have not got any response to it. Now that the court has issued an arrest warrant against him, the SIT has written a letter informing the same through official channels. Cancelling his passport after a warrant being issued against him is their (Central government's) duty."
"The Central government has to help us, it is not the question of Revanna or Prajwal Revanna, it is the question of law. They have to cooperate. It is also the duty of the Central government to protect the law, and they will have to understand it," he added.
The 33-year-old Prajwal, who is the grandson of JD(S) patriarch and former PM H D Deve Gowda and is the NDA's candidate from Hassan Lok Sabha segment, is facing charges of multiple instances of sexually abusing women.
Prajwal reportedly left for Germany on April 27, a day after Hassan went to polls, and is still at large. A 'Blue Corner Notice' seeking information on his whereabouts has already been issued by the Interpol, following a request by the SIT via the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
A Special Court for Elected Representatives issued an arrest warrant on Saturday against Prajwal, following an application moved by the SIT.
On JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy's statement that the purported audio of an alleged conversation between Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and BJP leader Devaraje Gowda about the leak of explicit videos allegedly involving Prajwal, was an evidence of the Deputy CM's being behind circulation of the clips, Parameshwara said, "Kumaraswamy is speaking about everything, but within the framework of law and in accordance with the SIT's mandate, whatever has to be done (probed), the investigators will do it."
"The government decided (to form SIT) keeping everything in mind. Every day, he (Kumaraswamy) is indulging in criticism, in a way he seems to be directing (investigation to be done) in a certain way," he said.
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Waqf Bill anti-secular, will snatch rights of Muslims: Mamata Banerjee
Kolkata (PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday described the Waqf (Amendment) Bill as “anti-secular”, claiming that it would snatch the rights of Muslims.
Banerjee, speaking in the assembly, also said the Centre did not consult with states over the matter.
“The bill is anti-federal and anti-secular; it is a deliberate attempt to malign a particular section. It will snatch the rights of Muslims... The Centre did not consult with us on the Waqf Bill,” she said.
The chief minister added that “if any religion was attacked”, she would wholeheartedly condemn it.
Opposition parties have stridently criticised the amendments proposed by the bill in the existing Waqf Act, alleging that they violate the religious rights of Muslims.
The ruling BJP has asserted that the amendments will bring transparency in the functioning of the Waqf boards and make them accountable.
A parliamentary committee has been constituted to scrutinise the contentious bill.
