Parrikar Begins Fresh Round of Talks with Rebel BJP Legislators 

Panaji, Oct 8 (IANS): Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Manohar Parrikar Friday began a fresh round of talks with dissident Karnataka legislators, who have been camping at a five star resort here after differences with Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa.

The meeting began at 9.30 a.m.

"There are some issues which we will discuss and settle. I am confident," Parrikar said.

The 14 dissident legislators -- nine from the BJP and five Independents -- Thursday arrived at the Taj Exotica resort which has been turned into a veritable fortress.

However, the Karnataka unit of the BJP alleged that their legislators were kept hostage.

"They are being kept under house arrest with the use of the police. Initially, we were not even allowed to meet them," said Karnataka Tourism Minister Janardhan Reddy, who was in Goa.

BJP's Lok Sabha member from north Goa Shripad Naik, Parrikar and state BJP president Laxmikant Parsenkar were even blocked from entering the Taj Exotica by the security staff.

Naik and Parrikar were asked to walk into the hotel but their cars were disallowed from entering the premises.

Thursday witnessed high passions outside the Taj Exotica with Janata Dal-Secular leader H.D. Kumaraswamy heckled by BJP workers and his car blocked outside the hotels for several minutes.

After an aide who stepped out to confront the BJP supporters was roughed up, Kumaraswamy's vehicle dangerously sped towards the hotel gate, running over the foot of a BJP supporter who was rushed to a hospital.

The BJP-led Karnataka government is currently in crisis mode after 19 of its legislators withdrew support. Fourteen of the dissenting legislators have camped in Goa.

The government has been reduced to a minority and has been asked to prove its majority on the floor of the house Oct 12. However, Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa has said he would do it a day earlier.

Karnataka Crisis Will End Saturday, says Parrikar  

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Manohar Parrikar, the party's chief interlocutor for the Karnataka crisis who has been holding discussions with dissident legislators camping at a Goa resort, has said the dispute would be resolved by Saturday.

Addressing reporters outside a five-star resort, where the 14 dissidents are staying, Parrikar also accused Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy of horse-trading.

"It's dispute within the party and it will be resolved by tomorrow," Parrikar said.

"I have met everyone, including the Independent legislators. All I am asking them is to be with the BJP as they were earlier," Parrikar said. He added that the crisis was on the wane and things were "gradually improving" between the dissidents and the party.

"H.D. Kumaraswamy is here for horse-trading. Why should we indulge in horse-trading. They are our own horses," Parrikar said.

Thursday witnessed high passions outside the Taj Exotica resort with Kumaraswamy being heckled by BJP party workers and his car blocked outside the resort hotel for many minutes.

After an aide who stepped out to confront the BJP supporters was roughed up, Kumaraswamy's vehicle sped towards the hotel gate, running over the foot of a BJP supporter who was rushed to a local hospital.

The BJP-led Karnataka government is currently in a crisis mode after 19 of its legislators withdrew support. Fourteen of the dissenting legislators have camped in Goa.

The government has been reduced to a minority and has been asked to prove its majority on the floor of the house Oct 12. However, Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa has said he would do it a day earlier.