Title - Of quickfixes, and deep slumber...

The BJP top brass was clearly worried when reports first came in about the sudden exodus of residents of the North-east from Bangalore following the threats to their lives. Delhi leaders were on their phones the first night when they heard about the rush at the railway station, but to their embarrassment, the newly-appointed Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar could not be reached as he had gone to bed early. Home Minister R Ashok was then contacted and asked to rush to the station to instil confidence among those fleeing the city. Although BJP leaders believed the spate of violent incidents in Assam had pushed the Congress on the backfoot, they were also quick to realise that it would reflect very poorly on its Karnataka government if it failed to ensure the safety of the people from the North-east.