In a recent Twitter war between Congress and BJP, it appears to be a battle which is tilting towards the BJP. The Congress has been put on the back foot on social media again, as BJP took a dig at Congress on the recent controversy relating to Siddaramaiah’s Hublot watch.
The Congress had tweeted that it is launching a crowdfunding campaign for its candidate in Molakalmuru.
The Congress Party will be launching its maiden crowdfunding campaign today to support our Molkalmuru candidate, 33-year old, Ph.D. Scholar, Dr Yogesh Babu, a product of @IYC, & contesting against BJP’s mining mafia.
Contribute now! https://t.co/PNFcR5EsQY#CleanPoliticsWithINC
— Karnataka Congress (@INCKarnataka) May 7, 2018
The BJP reacted instantly to take a dig at Siddaramaiah led Congress government that they should instead pawn the Hublot watch of the Chief Minister rather than doing the drama of crowdfunding. BJP went to extent of calling Congress as the Grand Party of Looters and accused them of running the state dry for last 5 years.
Congress launching a crowd funding campaign is just laughable! The grand old party of looters is now doing this drama after milking Karnataka dry for last five years
Why don’t you ask CM @siddaramaiah to pawn his Hublot watch & fund his candidate’s expenses?
So much drama! Uff! https://t.co/Z7WwXiOvCS
— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) May 7, 2018
The Hublot controversy is back to haunt Congress. This controversy is brewing for a couple of years now and this time BJP has made serious charges with credible evidence which accuses Siddaramaiah of nepotism. The Hublot watch controversy started when the opposition party accused the chief minister of receiving a watch worth Rs. 70 Lakh. Siddaramaiah has said that he was gifted by an old friend and had submitted before speaker of Legislature. But new evidence shows that this gift watch may have been given by fugitive Vijay Eshwaran.
The BJP called a press conference to release certain evidence in public domain and accused Siddaramaiah of not only Nepotism but also of joining hands with a fugitive to indulge in corruption. Siddaramaiah has been accused of meeting this fugitive Vijay Eashwaran and receiving Hublot watch in China.
LIVE : Dr. @sambitswaraj is addressing a press conference in Bengaluru. #SiddaExposedhttps://t.co/neM7hu73gg
— BJP (@BJP4India) May 6, 2018
They allege that the fugitive Vijay Eshwaran is involved in various money laundering scams through his company Qnet Ltd during 2009 under UPA regime. Qnet Ltd formerly known as QuestNet. Gold Quest is a Hongkong based company which deals with Multi-Level Marketing and deals with high-end luxury and lifestyle products including watches. It is been charged of running Ponzi schemes and multi-level marketing scams in India. Even UPA government in Parliament had said that these companies are illegal and a threat to National Security.
In Sept 2013, Siddaramaiah went to attend WEF meeting in China and there he met Vijay Ishwaran who is an absconder. There was another absconder and SFIO has called both a national threat : Dr. @sambitswaraj #SiddaExposed pic.twitter.com/THJY16nz0l
— BJP (@BJP4India) May 6, 2018
Vijay Eshwaran has been accused by agencies like Serious Fraud Investigation Office in 2009, Economic Offensive wing in 2013 and even SEBI had forwarded complaints to State governments in 2016 about the alleged crimes committed by Vijay Eshwaran. BJP accuses Siddaramaiah of helping the fugitive to commit serious crimes, in return had received the expensive watch as a gift.
With all these accusations, the chief minister has to come clean about his dealings with the wanted fugitive. The Chief Minister has accused BJP of facilitating economic offences but has allowed corruption to take place under his own guard. This issue will cause a severe dent in Congress chances in upcoming Karnataka Elections.
