Monday, January 23 2006 16:47 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: Former prime minister and Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) supremo H D Deve Gowda today (Jan 23, 2006) met his son and JDS rebel leader, Kumaraswamy on the on-going political crisis in Karnataka.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Kumaraswamy, Gowda said, "I believe what my son has done is to save the party. It is 100 per cent to save the party. Otherwise, they (Congress) would have split my party".

Gowda also accused the Congress leaders of humiliating his party men, remarking, "I have suffered the humiliation in the last 18 months".

Kumaraswamy has told him that he would discuss with MLAs currently staying at Goa before taking any decision, he said.

Gowda said, so far, he has not received any formal invitation from Congress President Sonia Gandhi and he would meet her whenever he gets the offer.

"I will tell everything to all and take a decision later", Gowda said.

Gowda also endorsed his son's decision to take away the party MLAs to Goa to guard them against poaching.

The meeting took place at the residence of Gowda's eledest son Balakrishna.

Kumaraswamy, who reached the city by a helicopter, however, returned to Goa to join the MLAs.

Kumaraswamy told waiting reporters that he came to call on his father to enquire about his health.

Firmly ruling out going back on his decision to call off ties with the Congress and join hands with BJP in forming an alternative government, he said he cannot act against the wishes of his party men.

"I have explained to my father the humiliation I suffered at the hands of the Congress and also my by party men", he said, spiking speculations that there would be a change of heart by rebels.