Karnataka Minister DK Shivakumar, who reached Mumbai on Wednesday to meet rebels, was escorted by the Police away from the hotel. He reached the hotel amid slogans of ‘Go Back Shivakumar’ – raised by the supporters from rebel legislators who are staying in the hotel renaissance in Powai.
Police escorts Karnataka Minister DK Shivakumar away from the gates of Renaissance – Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel where 10 rebel Congress-JD(S) MLAs are staying. The MLAs had written to Police stating"We've heard CM&DK Shivakumar are going to storm the hotel,we feel threatened" pic.twitter.com/KCPmJzZjPH
— ANI (@ANI) July 10, 2019
Speaking to media outside the hotel, DK Shivakumar said, ‘I have booked a room in the Hotel. Many of my friends are staying here but there is a small problem. We want to hold discussions and negotiation. There can not be direct divorce’.
Responding to a question on the rebels seeking police protection, Shivakumar said, ‘There is no question of threatening, we respect and love each other’.
He added, ‘Nothing is permanent in politics. There are no friends and no enemies. Anyone can turn at any moment. I’m trying to contact them(rebel MLAs). I’ll get a call. Their heart is beating to meet their friend’, as quoted by ANI.
Karnataka Minister DK Shivakumar outside Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel: Nothing is permanent in politics. There're no friends&no enemies.Anyone can turn at any moment.I'm trying to contact them(rebel MLAs).I'll get a call.Their heart is beating to meet their friend. pic.twitter.com/2cdXiSn4dk
— ANI (@ANI) July 10, 2019
The Heavy Police deployment outside the hotel in Powai came after the rebel legislators wrote a letter to Mumbai Commissioner of Police stating that they feel threatened after hearing that the Chief Minister and some Minister are coming to the hotel.
READ: Karnataka Crisis: Congress Minister DK Shivakumar arrives in Mumbai to meet rebels; Disgruntled MLAs seek police protection
In a letter to Mumbai Commissioner of Police, rebel MLAs stated, ‘We are elected members of the Karnataka Assembly and staying in the hotel renaissance. We have heard that CM HD Kumaraswamy along with some ministers are going to storm in the Hotel, We feel threatened for the Same. Kindly help us in the matter and do not allow them inside the Hotel premises.
The 13-months old coalition government suffered a huge setback on Saturday when 11 MLAs from Congress–JD(S) ruling coalition tendered their resignation.
With the resignation of 11 MLAs of Congress-JDS and 2 Independent MLAs, the coalition government reduced to a minority with 104 MLAs which is 9 less than the required figures. All the rebel MLAs who are currently in Mumbai slammed Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy. However, they junked reports of joining the Bharatiya Janata Party.
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