“Don’t test my patience” HD Deve Gowda issues ‘stern warning’ to grandson Prajwal Revanna
Bengaluru: Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda has issued a “stern warning” to his grandson Prajwal Revanna, who is currently accused in a sex scandal and is reportedly absconding from India. In a letter shared on his X handle, Gowda expressed his anguish and called for Prajwal to surrender to the authorities immediately.
Gowda shared the emotional and personal turmoil he and his family have endured since the scandal broke. "It took me some time to recover from the shock and pain Prajwal has inflicted on me, my entire family, my colleagues, friends, and party workers," he said. Gowda reiterated his stance on the matter, stating unequivocally that if found guilty, Prajwal should face the harshest punishment under the law. This sentiment has been echoed by his son and former Karnataka Chief Minister, H.D. Kumaraswamy.
Acknowledging the harsh criticisms directed at him and his family in recent weeks, Gowda chose not to retaliate or seek to silence his detractors. "People have used the harshest words against me and my family. I am aware of it. I do not wish to stop them or criticize them. I will not try to argue that they should have waited until all the facts were known," he stated.
Gowda addressed the public skepticism regarding his knowledge of Prajwal's activities and movements, including his alleged foreign trip. "I also cannot convince people that I was unaware of Prajwal's activities, that I have no desire to shield him, or that I was not aware of his foreign trip. I believe in answering to my conscience and to God, who knows the truth," he asserted.
Choosing not to delve into what he described as political conspiracies, exaggerations, provocations, and falsehoods that have emerged in recent weeks, Gowda expressed his faith that those spreading such misinformation would eventually face divine justice. "I am very sure people who have done it will have to answer to God and pay for it heavily one day. I place my truth and my burdens at the feet of the Lord," he said.
The core of Gowda's message, however, was his direct warning to Prajwal. "At this juncture, I can do only one thing. I can issue a stern warning to Prajwal and ask him to return from wherever he is and surrender before the police. He should subject himself to the legal process. This is not an appeal; it is a warning," Gowda declared. He stressed the consequences of not heeding this warning, highlighting the potential for total isolation from the family. "If he does not heed this warning, he will have to face my anger and the anger of all his family members. The law will take care of the accusations against him, but not listening to the family will ensure his total isolation. If he has any respect left for me, he has to return immediately."
Gowda also emphasized his commitment to ensuring a fair investigation, free from any interference by him or his family. "I wish to make it clear that I will ensure there will be no interference in the inquiry against him from me or my family members. There is no emotion in this regard in my mind whatsoever, only the cause of justice for those who have suffered as a result of his alleged actions and misdeeds," he said.
"It is of utmost importance to me to earn back the trust of the people. They have stood by me for over sixty years of my political life, and I am deeply indebted to them. As long as I am alive, I will never let them down," he concluded.
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3rd T20I: A three-match 'audition' starts for Gill to find his game back
Dharamsala (PTI): The countdown to save his place in the playing XI begins for a beleaguered Shubman Gill, who is likely to get three matches against South Africa to prove his worth before the Indian team management switches to a ‘Plan B’ ahead of the T20 World Cup, starting in six weeks.
As India gear up to play the third T20I against the Proteas on Sunday in sub-10-degree temperatures in the lap of the ice-clad Dhauladhar range, things are suddenly heating up in the Indian dressing room, with the prolonged poor form of skipper Suryakumar Yadav coming under the scanner.
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Worse, his deputy Shubman Gill, who was pushed into the XI at the expense of a settled Sanju Samson, is not inspiring much confidence.
The South African pace attack featuring Anrich Nortje, Marco Jansen, Lungi Ngidi, Ottniel Baartman and Lutho Sipamla — has shown how to bowl on Indian tracks, and the HPCA Stadium strip, offering extra bounce and some movement off the surface, will certainly keep them interested.
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Among all T20 sides, South Africa, in terms of personnel, appears to have the requisite balance to win the trophy in the Indian subcontinent this time. Quinton de Kock’s return, along with the likes of Aiden Markram, Dewald Brevis, Donovan Ferreira, David Miller and all-rounder Jansen, gives their batting an intimidating look.
With only eight games, starting from the third T20I, left before the start of the T20 World Cup title defence, India's under-fire head coach Gautam Gambhir won't be able to afford, two out-of-form top-order batters in the starting line-up.
Being the skipper of the side, Surya will certainly have immunity going into the T20 World Cup despite being completely out of form for the past one year but same can't be said about Gill, who wasn't the original choice as an opener.
Gill's entry into the T20 set-up was a classic case of trying to fix something that ain't broken and things haven't looked good so far.
In this backdrop, Gill would need to bat out of his skin to prove that Ajit Agarkar-led committee wasn't wrong in throwing Samson under the bus for one bad series against England.
The stylish Indian Test and ODI skipper will have to find his T20 game and at least score in two of the three matches if he doesn't want Samson to get his rightful place back or for that matter, find Yashasvi Jaiswal, with a fabulous T20I strike-rate of 165, enter the fray during New Zealand series.
Lack of clarity
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While head coach Gambhir is too proud a person to admit but sending Axar Patel as a one drop batter during the second T20I was a "tactical brain fade" from the team's think-tank.
The kind misstep that was taken with Axar's promotion is unlikely to be repeated in the third game where skipper is expected to go back to No.3 where he has got a lot of success in his first few years at the international level.
Similarly, Shivam Dube being sent at number eight due to the shuffling of batting order was another poor call which would need course correction in the next game.
Is there a place for Kuldeep Yadav?
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Kuldeep Yadav is one bowler who has consistently troubled the Proteas batter but in an Indian team where batting till No. 8 is non-negotiable, the left-arm wrist spinner often finds himself getting the rough end of the stick.
At Dharamsala too, he might have to sit out as Kuldeep and Varun Chakravarthy, two non-batters can't be clubbed in the same T20 playing eleven as that would lead to compromise in batting depth.
While Arshdeep hasn't had a good series so far, it will be interesting to find if team management can find a place for Kuldeep in the playing eleven with Hardik Pandya sharing the new ball with Jasprit Bumrah.
The five-match series is currently tied 1-1.
Teams:
India: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, NT Tilak Verma, Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Sanju Samson (wk), Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar.
South Africa: Aiden Markram (captain), Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Donovan Ferreira, Marco Jansen, Lutho Sipamla, Ottniel Baartman, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, George Linde.
Match Starts at 7 pm.
