SOUTH
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was recently caught in the 'Hublot watch controversy', where he was criticised for wearing a watch worth lakhs. Later, Siddaramaiah had clarified that it was a gift from a friend.
Now it looks like, after that controversy, the CM has made up his mind to stay away from gifts as much as possible. In the video shown on news channels, the visibly uncomfortable CM was spotted pushing away a set of gifts offered to him, without even having a look.
The incident occurred during a progress review meeting held at the Vidhana Soudha. Silk Board Director Neela Manjunath had got some silk material as a gift for the Chief Minister, which she tried to give him through minister A Manju.
Initially smiling, Siddaramaiah grew serious as soon as he heard the word 'gift' and he pushed the packet away.