Congress leader DK Shivakumar was detained by the Mumbai police along with other party leaders from near a five-star hotel in Mumbai where he had waited for six hours to meet rebel lawmakers whose resignation has threatened the survival of the Karnataka coalition government.
Mr Shivakumar had been stopped from entering the Renaissance hotel after the rebels asked the Mumbai police for protection from him and other Karnataka coalition leaders who are trying to bring them around.
Waiting in the rain, Mr Shivakumar said he would not move until he spoke to the lawmakers who, on the other hand, refused to meet him.
“Shameful use of the police by the government,” said the Congress troubleshooter, who has accused the BJP – which rules Maharashtra – of trying to engineer a crisis to seize power in Karnataka.
Mr Shivakumar and Mumbai Congress leader Milind Deora were taken away by the police shortly after a ban on large gatherings was imposed in Powai, where the hotel Renaissance is located.
