Kumaraswamy reasserts claim on CM's watch, shades

JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy has reasserted that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s wristwatch costs Rs 50-60 lakh and sunglasses Rs 1.5 lakh.

Speaking to reporters here on Tuesday while canvassing for JD(S) candidate Ayaz Khan in the by-election to the Bidar Assembly seat, Kumaraswamy stressed that he had “solid proof” that the chief minister’s wristwatch was that expensive.

“I have no business objecting to what one wears. It’s the personal choice of an individual. But I would dispute the chief minister’s claims that he is a follower of socialist icon Ram Manohar Lohia who was known for his simple lifestyle,” he said, demanding that Siddaramaiah disclose the actual price of his personal wear.

“I have confirmed it from Dubai (where Siddaramaiah is said to have made the purchase) that the watch costs in the range of Rs 50 to 60 lakh. His sunglasses cost no less than Rs 1.5 lakh. After I started questioning him, he is not wearing the sunglasses in public,” he added.

Siddaramaiah had twice refuted Kumaraswamy’s assertion, saying he was ready to sell his watch for Rs five lakh and sunglasses Rs 50,000. Kumaraswamy had first made the assertion last week after Siddaramaiah said the JD(S) leader had spent Rs 60 crore to launch the film career of his son.