BJP chief rakes up K’taka CM’s ₹40L watch controversy

SHAH HAS TARGETED THE CONG GOVERNMENT OVER THE ALLEGED CORRUPTION IN HIS RALLIES AHEAD OF THE MAY 12 ASSEMBLY POLLS IN THE STATE

BENGALURU: BJP president Amit Shah on Sunday attacked Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah over the Hublot watch issue, alleging that funds disbursed by the central government were used by the chief minister for personal gains.

Addressing a rally in Hiriyur in Chitradurga district, Shah claimed that while the central government had increased the outlay of funds to the state government in accordance with the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission, the money did not reach the people.

“From ~88,000 crore under the United Progressive Alliance government, we increased the funds disbursed to the state to around ~3 lakh crore,” Shah claimed and questioned if “any of this money has reached the people”.

Shah has repeatedly targeted the Congress government over the alleged corruption in his rallies ahead of the May 12 assembly polls in the state. On Sunday, he again accused the state government as the most corrupt.

“Siddaramaiah keeps accusing me of not giving any evidence to prove the charges of corruption. But I have only one question, does anybody present here have a watch worth ~40 lakh?”

He was referring to a Hublot watch Siddaramaiah reportedly used to sport before a controversy broke out. While the CM maintained that the watch was gifted to him, he later handed it over to the assembly Speaker in March 2016.

“To date, Siddaramaiah has been unable to tell me where he got the watch from and who gifted it to him,” Shah said.

Shah also held two road shows in Davanagere and Tumakuru. Congress spokespersons could not be reached for comments.