from daijiworld's special correspondent (MB)

Panaji, May 27: Down in Goa to campaign for his party for the June 2 Assembly election, former prime minister H D Deve Gowda Saturday alleged "humiliation" to him in the state.

"For the first time I have faced such a humiliation.... Never in my life I faced it," Gowda, national president of Janata Dal (S), told reporters here.

Gowda was perturbed over the alleged manhandling of his party office-bearers during a raid in port town of Vasco last week. The former Prime Minister had held a token sit-in in front of Mahatma Gandhi's statue in old Goa to protest against the "harassment".

Gowda said he lost "six most precious days" of campaigning due to "unwarranted action by the authorities".

"Am I not a citizen of India? I don't want to blame anyone. Now, I have realised what Goa really is. I will fight to eradicate sufferings of Goa till my death," an emotionally charged Gowda said.

The former Prime Minister, who has been campaigning in the state for almost a fortnight now, was not given `z plus' security by the authorities.

Janata Dal (S) spokesman Kunwar Danish Ali had complained about withdrawal of security to their party president to the home ministry, which immediately restored it.

"I am not concerned about the security....I am talking about the harassment meted out while executing my right as a citizen," Gowda said.

He stated that his party which is contesting the state elections for the first time, has had to face many hurdles. "Is it a sin to field my party candidates?" he asked.