Janata Dal (S) blamed for abducting MLAs

Janata Dal (S) blamed for abducting MLAs
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, OCT 9
In a dramatic turn of events which took the BJP camp by surprise, 13 out of the 14 dissident Karnataka MLAs left Taj Exotica, Benaulim on Saturday noon in a convoy of cars under tight police security, even as the BJP leaders accused the Janata Dal Secular of abducting the MLAs from the resort.
The development came just 24 hours after the BJP leaders had exuded confidence to win back the dissident MLAs by meeting all their demands. However, the three days of suspense over which way the dissident MLAs would finally go, ended around 3.30 pm when the MLAs, except Renukacharya, left the resort in four vehicles under police protection. The sudden turn of events came when BJP leaders Manohar Parrikar and MP Shripad Naik, besides BJP leaders from Karnataka were holed up in the resort trying to woo the MLAs to support the beleaguered Yeddyurappa Government.
In fact, Parrikar and other BJP activists followed the convoy to Dabolim airport in a bid to stop them from heading to Bangalore.
BJP leaders including MP Ramesh Katty, MLA Renukacharya, besides North Goa MP Shripad Naik, who were left behind at Taj Exotica said the dissident MLAs were taken by goondas brought from outside the State.
MLA Renukacharya said the goondas of the Janata Dal Secular led by Jamir Ahmed abducted and kidnapped the MLAs from the resort in collusion with the Goa Government.
Another senior BJP leader from Karnataka said the dissident MLAs had almost agreed to accompany them to Bangalore when at the eleventh hour some goondas came inside the resort and took them away. He said 13 of the MLAs have been taken in vehicles by a big group led by JD(S) leader Jamir Ahmed.
“All the MLAs wanted to come with us to Bangalore, but these goondas came and forcibly took them out of the resort.
BJP MP from Karnataka Ramesh Katty said JD(S) leader Jamir Ahmed was leading the team of dissident MLAs with the protection extended by the Goa police.
Claiming that the dissident MLAs were forcibly taken away by the JD(S) goons, Katty charged the Goa Government with colluding with the JD(S) leadership.
“The goons physically took the MLAs away in 3-4 vehicles. They have been kidnapped. They were supposed to come with us back to Bangalore, but have been kidnapped by the JD(S) goons”, he claimed.
Saying that the Goa Government actively supported the dissident group as evident by the presence of the Home Minister, Ravi Naik, PWD Minister Churchill Alemao and other Ministers in the resort, the MP, however, exuded confidence that the Chief Minister would win the trust vote on October 11.
North Goa MP, Shripad Naik, who had told newsmen on Friday night that the crisis had blown over after the BJP leadership accepted the demands of the dissidents, said the group of 13 MLAs were called outside the resort by a big group of people and taken away.
Replying to a question, he said the Goa Government did play a role in the entire episode as evident by the presence of the Ministers in the resort and the huge police force. “The Goa Government definitely had a hand in the entire episode”, he asserted.
He said the sudden turn of events took place when the BJP leadership was to have a final round of meeting with the dissident MLAs, but the group suddenly made their presence felt and within two-three minutes took away the MLAs.