Daijiworld media Network-Bengaluru (RJP)

Bengaluru, Feb 14: The BJP asked the chief minister Siddaramaiah to come out clean on the controversy of his expensive wrist watch on Saturday, February 13 here.

“The chief minister Siddaramaiah is holding a very responsible post. He should disclose as to who gave him that expensive watch which is said to be costing around Rs 70 lac. People of the state have a right to know all details about the watch,” BJP leader S Suresh Kumar said on behalf of his party speaking to the media.

JD(S) leader and former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy had first talked about the expensive watch. Siddaramaiah had initially claimed that the watch was worth only Rs 5 lac. But later when Kumaraswamy said that it cost around Rs 70 lac with taxes, Siddaramaiah said that he did not buy that watch and it was gifted to him by somebody without naming the person.

“If somebody has given him such an expensive gift, the question arise why he was gifted such an expensive watch. He is obliged to clarify whether the person who gave him the expensive gift received anything in return,” Suresh Kumar stated.

On Friday the chief minister made a statement that he will not talk about the watch issue at all. Reacting to this, Suresh Kumar said "The chief minister cannot just try to bury the issue by saying he will not talk about it. Hundreds of doubts will crop up in the minds of people if he chooses to remain silent."