Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (RJP)

Bengaluru, Feb 16: The wristwatch of chief minister is not a simple issue anymore except for those who are defending him. Gradually it has become an issue of debate not only in political circles but even among common people. Congress party which had criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for wearing a suit costing Rs 10 lac is in a fix now. A Congress chief minister wearing a watch costing Rs 70 lac is a matter of embarrassment for the party leaders.

Some political analysts have opined that the CM may even have to vacate his seat for accepting the expensive watch as a gift. After JD (S ) leader H D Kumaraswamy revealed that Siddaramaiah was wearing an expensive watch, The CM had said that it was gifted to him. He must have thought that it was the easiest way to come out from the problem. But now the ‘gift’ angle itself has become the biggest problem for him.

Many Karnataka politicians have resigned or lost power because of several scams. Bottling scam during Ramakrishna Hegde, Classic computer scam during S Bangarappa rule, tape scam during Veerappa Moily’s regime and illegal mining and denotification scams during Yeddyurappa’s time are noteworthy here. Issues like corruption, sexual harassment and watching porn in the Legislative House also have proven too costly for some politicians in State in the past.

No politician has been implicated or prosecuted for accepting gift in India. Only other person who lost his minister post for ‘gift’ was CM Ibrahim, a minister, 33 years back in Karnataka when Gundu Rao was the chief minister. Ibrahim, who had visited Dubai during that time, had brought a Rolex watch from there. He had claimed that it was gifted to him by Dubai Sheikh. Then legislative Council leader A K Subbaiah raised this issue in the House and it was discussed for three days. Ultimately Ibrahim had to resign for receiving an expensive watch as gift.

Siddaramaiah has not yet revealed as to who gifted him the watch. As per the income tax act, one has to declare a gift above Rs 50,000. Siddaramaiah during his asset declaration had not mentioned about the watch gift. As a case stands registered at Lokayukta, days ahead are not easier for Siddaramaiah.

Meanwhile there are some backdoor attempts to make the watch issue a ‘simple one’, it has been learned. There are some suggestions from some advisors to announce that “As Siddaramaiah received some of the gifts as a chief minister, all the gifts will be handed over to the government once he leaves office. “. Nobody knows how well this tactic will work.

Kumaraswamy on Monday said that the watch issue is only a tip of the iceberg and he will expose more gifts Siddaramaiah has received. He also said that Siddaramaiah has more than 8 expensive watches.

The watch worn by Siddaramaiah is indeed costly. How costly it will become to him in discharging his duties, is yet to be seen. Will it cost him his chair?