Karnataka - Bellary   

Tension over ‘rights’ to Janata Dal (S) office

BELLARY: Tension prevailed for some time in front of the office of the district unit of the Janata Dal (Secular) here on Wednesday when followers of the former Home Minister M.P. Prakash wanted to enter the party office and hold a meeting. When they were not allowed to enter the office by newly appointed district president H. Hanumanthappa, they returned.

Later, Gulagi Nagaraj, who was removed from the post for his close association with Mr. Prakash, addressed them outside the building. Mr. Nagaraj, who had come to the JD(S) office with a large number of party leaders and workers from various parts of the district, was surprised to see police cover around the office. A group comprising followers of Mr. Hanumanthappa had gathered there.Tension began mounting when both the groups started shouting slogans in favour of their party leaders.

Mr. Nagaraj’s group appeared to be irked when they were not allowed inside, while Mr. Hanumanthappa stuck to his stand saying that his followers had already occupied the hall and that he would not ask them to vacate. He however, said that a few leaders could enter his chamber if they needed to discuss anything. When there were no signs of rapprochement, Mr. Nagaraj decided to address his followers outside the building.

Stating that he and other party leaders had come to the office to inform workers that no decision had been taken by Mr. Prakash and other leaders on the future course of action, and that they still continued to be in the party, he said he was surprised to see that they had been barred from entering the office.

He took exception to the manner in which Mr. Hanumanthappa had assumed charge, without informing him. “We are still in the party and it was not fair on the part of Mr. Hanumanthappa to prevent us from holding a meeting in the office. I strongly condemn his stand,” he said.

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