Bengaluru: A controversial statement made by a Congress leader and Minister in Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's cabinet has ignited fury, as he drew parallels between Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna and the revered deity Lord Krishna.
Revanna, a parliamentarian seeking re-election from the Hassan constituency, faces allegations of multiple sexual assaults, with video clips purportedly depicting these incidents circulating across the state amid ongoing election fervor.
The grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, Revanna is believed to have fled the country and is reportedly in Germany, with a global lookout notice issued against him.
Ramappa Timmapur, the Excise Minister in Siddaramaiah's government, triggered the controversy with his remarks suggesting that Revanna harboured ambitions of achieving a Guinness World Record for assaulting numerous women.
"We have never witnessed such depravity in our country. It appears that he aimed to achieve a Guinness record. Women have historically revered Lord Krishna with devotion, but Prajwal Revanna seems to have had different intentions, perhaps seeking to break this record," Timmapur asserted.
Timmapur's comments have set off a storm on social media, with widespread condemnation and calls for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to take action against the Minister for his insensitive remarks amidst serious allegations against Revanna.
Krishna Mohan, a spokesperson for the BJP, has lambasted the Congress for what he perceives as an attempt to demean Sanatana Dharma, the ancient Indian spiritual tradition.
Mohan criticized the Congress, accusing them of a lack of ideas following the release of their manifesto. He questioned the party's motives in focusing on issues related to Sanatana Dharma and potentially disparaging revered figures like Lord Krishna in a bid to win votes.
"Is this the way for them to demean Sanatana Dharma? Is this the way Congress wants to garner votes by demeaning Sanatana gods?" Mohan rhetorically questioned, expressing concern over the party's approach.
He further highlighted what he perceives as a lack of understanding of spiritual texts like the Bhagavad Gita within the Congress party.
The BJP spokesperson urged Congress members to undertake thorough study and comprehension of such texts before making statements that could be construed as 'disrespectful'.