"PMO has not informed Foreign Ministry": Karnataka Home Minister after Jaishankar remark on Prajwal Revanna's passport
May 25, 2024
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], May 25 : After External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar disclosed that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) received a request only on May 21 to impound the passport of Janata Dal-Secular MP Prajwal Revanna, Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwar said that the former's statement shows that the PMO had not informed the concerned ministry.
"This shows that the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has not informed the Foreign Ministry Office. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had written a letter. What happened to the Prime Minister's letter written by our CM?" the Karnataka Minister said.
Revanna is facing a probe by a Special Investigative Team (SIT) constituted by the Karnataka government over allegations of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation following a complaint by a woman who worked in his household.
Parameshwar's statement comes after EAM Jaishankar, in an exclusive interview with ANI, clarified the procedural aspects, saying, "To impound a passport is governed by an act called the Passport Act. We need a judicial court or a police request to do so. The MEA got this request from Karnataka only on May 21."
Highlighting the adherence to legal procedures, Jaishankar emphasized that the external affairs minister acted promptly upon receiving the request. "We immediately acted on it. On 23rd of May... we have to follow a certain procedure and the procedure is initiated," he added.
Siddaramaiah wrote to PM Modi on May 1 and May 23 urging him to take action to cancel the diplomatic passport of Prajwal Revanna, who is said to have flown to Europe after being accused of sexually exploiting several women.
In his letter to the Prime Minister, the Karnataka CM said that it is shameful that Prajwal Revanna fled the country on April 27, 2024, to Germany using his diplomatic passport shortly after news of his heinous actions emerged and just a few hours before the first FIR was filed against him.
The revelation comes amidst a political storm surrounding Prajwal Revanna ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. The Karnataka government constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) on April 27 to probe into allegations against Revanna after explicit videos allegedly involving him surfaced on social media.
Despite the allegations, Prajwal Revanna has vehemently denied the accusations, asserting that the circulated videos are doctored. The formation of the SIT came following recommendations by the state women's commission, indicating the seriousness with which the matter is being addressed by authorities.
