Gujarat Congress MLAs visit Karnataka Governor, D K Shivakumar joins them later

Gujarat MLA and spokesperson Shakthisinh Gohil said the governor had received them warmly and had assured them there was nothing to worry about.

Gujarat MLAs address the media after meeting Karnataka governor Vajubhai Vala outside Raj Bhavan in Bengaluru. (EPS | Pushkar V)

BENGALURU: Hours after the Income Tax raids on state energy minister D K Shivakumar ended, the 44 Gujarat Congress MLAs holed up in the city met governor Vajubhai Vala on Saturday morning. They were accompanied by Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee President Bharatsinh Solanki.

Speaking to the media, Gujarat MLA and spokesperson Shakthisinh Gohil said the governor had received them warmly and had assured them there was nothing to worry about.

Gohil said, "We have been subjected to much threat and pressure but we will not succumb to it. The BJP wants to spread an atmosphere of fear. A politician and businessman takes care of us and he is subjected to three days of raids and questioning. This is unheard of."

Gohil continued saying, "The message BJP is sending is that if even if you give a glass of water to these MLAs, we would coming after you. If the case is indeed old as they are claiming, then why could they not have waited for another three days?" he questioned.

Gohil further said the raids were not as innocent as being claimed. "If they were only interested in questioning him (Shivakumar), then why did they come to the resort and search. They could have asked him to step out and he could have been taken to his residence," he said.

Gohil continued, "The manner in which they entered the resort and searched the rooms tells us they are trying to scare us, but they will not succeed. Imagine what they would have done to us, if we had stayed in Gujarat," he added.

The MLAs were joined by embattled Karnataka energy minister D K Shivakumar, who had been sequestered in his house for the past three days by Income Tax officials who concluded the raids on Saturday morning.

After the officials left his residence, Shivakumar visited a temple and met a seer in Vijayangar area and came to Raj Bhavan to join the Gujarat legislators and was received with much cheer among the group. Shivakumar, who sported a nonchalant look refused to speak to the media about the raids.

The group led by Shivakumar later left for Vidhana Soudha and after visiting the Mahatma Gandhi statue and were taken on a tour of the seat of power.