Kumaraswamy meets Karnataka rebels in Goa resort

PANAJI - Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy arrived late Thursday night at a five star Goa resort where 14 Karnataka rebel legislators are camping, literally pushed his way through a crowd of angry BJP workers standing guard, and held closed door parleys with the lawmakers.

Kumaraswamys appearance at the resort created a near-volatile situation after angry Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers gheraoed his car and roughed up his aide. Kumaraswamy had to ride roughshod over a BJP supporter’s foot before entering the hotel premises. He was still ensconsed inside with the rebels, till reports last came in.

Former Goa chief minister and senior BJP leader Manohar Parrikar told reporters that he had spoken to the nine BJP and five Independent legislators camped in Goa and that the talks were going in the right direction.

I spoke to all of them and things are positive. They have just spoken to the Karnataka chief minister. They are not rebelling. They have issues which are being discussed, Parrikar maintained.

The very fact that Kumaraswamy had to come here means they are not yielding to him. They are not supporting the Congress, Parrikar said.

The senior leader also said that the role of the Congress party in destabilizing the BJP led government in Karnataka was clear with three Congress ministers from Goa, shepherding the dissident group.

Three Congress ministers including Ravi (Home Minister Ravi Naik), Churchill (PWD Minister Churchill Alemao) and Aleixo Sequeira (environment minister) are camped here.

“They are being escorted everywhere by the Congress leaders who want to stir trouble, Parrikar said, adding that earlier comments by Congress leaders that they had no part to play in the political drama was hypocrisy.

Parrikar earlier had to break through the cordon of policemen and hotel security staff, after he was initially not allowed to meet the dissidents.

–Indo Asian News Service