Karnataka Transport Minister P G R Sindhia, who was attacked minutes before the rally began, escaped unhurt. The attackers shouted slogans against Sindhia and some even alleged him of instigating party workers in his Assembly constituency of Kanakapura to stay away from the rally.

"I have escaped a threat to my life," Sindhia, identified with the anti-Gowda faction, told reporters later at his residence. He said he had apprised party president Sharad Yadav and Chief Minister J H Patel, who have promised action.

Speaking at the rally, Gowda and Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who is also the Karnataka unit Janata Dal president, regretted the incident and said it should not have happened.

At least four ministers belonging to the Vokkaliga community, who areagainst Gowda, stayed sway from the rally, bringing to open yet again fissures in the ruling party.

Gowda, Yadav, Patel and Ram Vilas Paswan came down on the Vajpayee government for hiking urea price and allowing import of silk and sugar.

"This government must go," Gowda said, and asserted that the Vajpayee government would collapse any time.

Gowda said a Janata Dal delegation would meet Vajpayee next week and submit a memorandum listing 18 programmes for the welfare of those in the unorganised sector like farmers and workers.

The party leaders also criticised commerce Minister Ramakrishna Hegde for allowing import of raw silk, saying it would hurt sericulturists.

On the silk import decision, Gowda said the government's only aim was to increase exports at any cost, and vowed to stage a relentless battle until the Centre withdrew its order on import of raw silk.

Paswan alleged that the BJP-led coalition had become a "government of traders and black-marketeers".