Bengaluru: Former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) chief HD Deve Gowda has issued a stern warning to his grandson Prajwal Revanna urging him to return to India and surrender before police.
The 91-year-old politician said Prajwal, an accused in sexual harassment case, should be given the harshest punishment if charges against him are proved to be correct.
In an emotional two-page open letter titled ‘My Warning To Prajwal Revanna,’ Deve Gowda said I he believes in God and “the almighty” knows the truth.
“People have used the harshest words against me and my family in the last few weeks. I am aware of it. I do not wish to stop them. I do not wish to criticise them. I will not try and argue with them that they should have waited until all the facts were found out. I also cannot convince people that I was unaware of Prajwal’s activities. I cannot convince them that I have no desire to shield him. I cannot convince them that I am not aware of his movements and that I was not aware of his foreign trip. I believe in answering my conscience. I believe in God, and I know the almighty knows the truth,” the former Prime Minister mentioned.
Prajwal, who is seeking re-election from Karnataka’s Hassan, left the country a day after polling took place in his Parliamentary constituency last month.
Deve Gowda asked Prajwal to return to the country if he has any respect for his grandfather.
“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 that I am making, it is a warning that I am issuing,” the nonagenarian wrote.
Deve Gowda further conveyed to Prajwal that if he doesn’t listen to family members, it will lead to his total isolation.
“If he does not heed to this warning, he will have to face my anger and 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,” he added.
The former PM made it clear that he won’t try to influence the investigation in any manner.