Opposition attacks CM on watch row, demands he quit

The Opposition disrupted the proceedings of the legislature on Tuesday, demanding that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah come clean on his diamond-studded wrist watch or step down immediately.

The BJP and the JD(S) wanted the chief minister to explain why he accepted a Rs 70 lakh worth of Hublot watch from NRI doctor, Girish Chandra Varma, and whether there was some quid pro quo.

In response, the chief minister reiterated that he had done nothing wrong by accepting the gift from the NRI. Congress legislators tried to turn the tables on the BJP members, accusing them of wearing equally expensive watches.

In the Assembly, BJP members led by Jagadish Shettar unsuccessfully attempted to move an adjournment motion, demanding an explanation from  the chief minister on the grounds that it was a matter of public interest. The BJP argued that Siddaramaiah not only flouted the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), but also the code of conduct for ministers. Shettar not only sought Varma’s details but also an affidavit from him that he had gifted the watch to Siddaramaiah.

At that time, however, the chief minister didn’t respond.  Interestingly, JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy, who was the first to highlight that the chief minister wears expensive watches, remained a mute spectator to the war of words between the Congress and the BJP members. But his partymen supported the BJP members in the Council. Amid the din, Siddaramaiah and his Cabinet colleagues tried to declare the watch issue “a close chapter”.

In the Council, BJP leader K S Eshwarappa said in a preliminary submission on the adjournment motion, “The chief minister should reveal why he accepted such an expensive gift and whether the gifter had benefited from him.” He also suggested that Siddaramaiah had brought “discredit” to the State.

Siddaramaiah, who had remained silent for the most part of the screaming match, defended himself by saying he had not violated the FCRA as Dr Varma was not a foreigner and that it was permissible to accept gifts from NRIs. He reiterated that he would mention the watch in his Income Tax returns and to the Lokayukta by June, besides depositing the personal wear with the State government.

The BJP said the Congress party had “panicked” over the watch issue. Jumping to Siddaramaiah’s defence, Congress ministers and members presented photographs which they said showed BJP leaders wearing equally expensive watches.

In the Council, BJP and JD(S) members staged a dharna, seeking permission to make the preliminary submission. But the chairs of both the Houses did not allow the adjournment motion. The House was then adjourned for the day as the Opposition refused to budge.  
DH News Service

Stop CM from watch auction: Plea in HC
A petition has urged the High Court to direct Chief Minister Siddaramaiah not to auction the Hublot watch he claimed was a gift from an NRI doctor. The petitioner, Nataraj Sharma, said he had written to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to investigate the source of the watch. He urged the court to order the chief secretary to keep the watch in safe custody. The court is yet to hear the petition.