Mangaluru, Feb 27: Former Union minister B Janardhana Poojary has pitched in to support chief minister Siddaramaiah, who is shrouded in the Hublot watch controversy.
On Saturday, the veteran Congress leader told reporters that Siddaramaiah has done no wrong. "Being a former finance minister of India, I say that there is nothing wrong on part of Siddaramaiah with regard to the wrist watch he got. Siddaramaiah has disclosed that the watch was gifted to him by a friend. The chief minister has agreed that he will declare it as an asset before the income tax department. He also has agreed to pay gift tax for the watch he received as gift. He has sufficient time to declare it before the income tax department as per law. Hence, there is no question of violation of any rules on part of the chief minister," Poojary said.
Lashing at former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy, who leveled allegations against Siddaramaiah in connection with the Hublot watch, Poojary said the former chief minister and the son of former Prime Minister of India need to speak responsibly.
"You are a former chief minister and son of former Prime Minister Deve Gowda. Hence, you should speak with more responsibility. You prove all allegations made against Siddaramaiah. You said that the watch that Siddaramaiah wore was the one stolen from Dr Sudhakar Shetty of Kundapur. However, Dr Shetty himself has denied it and there nothing left to discuss about it. It is fair on part of a former chief minister to make false allegation against a chief minister just for political mileage," Poojary lambasted.
Later Poojary dared BJP leaders, who are seeking inquiry into Siddaramaiah's Hublot watch controversy, to question Prime Minister Narendra Modi for wearing an expensive suit of Rs 10 lakh last year. He also sought to know from BJP leaders the source for advertisements and hoardings appeared on the 74th birthday of former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa.



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