Siddaramaiah dismisses BJP’s allegations on Hublot watch

Dismissing BJP’s allegations that a “declared absconder” had given him an expensive wristwatch as one of the saffron party’s “hundred lies”, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today said he had already clarified that the Hublot watch had been gifted to him by a NRI friend.

He told reporters in Mysuru that his friend Girish Verma had already submitted an affidavit to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) that he had presented the watch to him. “He has already provided the bills from the place in Dubai, where the watch was bought. What more evidence is required?”, the Chief Minister said.

Referring to the BJP’s charge that it was given to him by an industrialist, who has been declared as an absconder, Mr. Siddaramaiah said he does not know who the BJP was referring to.

Mr Siddaramaiah has already handed over the watch to the Speaker Kagodu Thimappa with a request to make it a state asset.

Attacks Modi

Responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had reportedly sought to know the connection between the wristwatch and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) company that had come forward to develop Jog Falls in Shivamogga, Mr. Siddaramaiah urged the Prime Minister to explain the source of the expensive clothes he wears. “Where did it come from? Who gave it to you? Has income tax been paid?”, the Chief Minister sought to know.

Mr. Siddaramaiah came down on Mr. Modi for “stooping low” while addressing election rallies in the State. When his attention was drawn to Mr. Modi asking the Congress to learn patriotism from Mudhol hounds, Mr. Siddaramaiah said his “speech shows his culture”. “Have you heard other Prime Ministers speak like that? Have Manmohan Singh, Rajiv Gandhi or Indira Gandhi spoken like that?”, he sought to know.

After the rallies of Mr. Modi and BJP’s national president Amit Shah, the pro-Congress wave in Karnataka has become stronger. “It is crystal clear now that the Congress will win with a clear majority and form the next government and I will be the Chief Minister”, Mr. Siddaramiah said.

Referring to the attacks mounted on him by BJP leaders, Mr. Siddaramaiah said they were “afraid” of him and hence making desperate efforts by uttering a bundle of lies.

He scoffed at former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa for fixing the date of swearing-in ceremony. “Only people who will not come to power will talk like that”, Mr. Siddaramaiah said.