Accusing Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah of turning a 'capitalist' for possessing a luxury watch, Union Minister Ananth Kumar today demanded a impartial probe into the "watch scam".
The senior BJP leader also asked Siddaramaiah to explain how he possessed the watch when he being a public servant cannot accept a gift valued more than Rs 400.
"It is very unfortunate that Siddaramaiah who comes from socialist background has become a capitalist. An impartial inquiry should be ordered in this watch scam," Kumar said.
He said the chief minister should explain to the people from where this watch came from or whether he had that much disposable income to purchase the expensive item.
"If yes, then he should also make public his income sources," he said, adding "If you are public servant you cannot take gift of more than Rs 400. Then how Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah can have this costly gift."
The six-time MP from Bengaluru also said that if it is a imported watch then it could also be a violation of Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). At the same time it is a case for Enforcement Directorate (ED), he said.
Siddaramaiah is in a spot after the controversy that cropped up over him wearing a Rs 70-lakh diamond-studded Hublot watch, with JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy alleging that it could have been a "stolen" watch as the chief minister said it was not bought by him but gifted by a friend.
However, Siddaramaiah has said that it was gifted to him by his close friend who visited India last July.
