Bengaluru: With less than a week to go before Karnataka votes in the assembly election, the BJP on Sunday attacked Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over what the party called his meeting with two "declared absconders" wanted for financial fraud, including a person called Vijay Eswaran.
The two men were declared absconders by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) in 2009 and yet the Chief Minister met them during his visit to a summit in China, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra told reporters in Bengaluru.
"In September 2013, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah went to attend a WEF (World Economic Forum) meeting in China and met two men declared absconders in 2009. The SFIO has called them national threat. Lakhs of crores have been duped by them. There was also a gift package handed over to Mr Siddaramaiah," alleged Mr Patra.
The BJP also posed several questions to the chief minister, including whether he knew Vijay Eswaran and if the latter is not a declared offender.
Mr Patra also sought to know if Mr Siddaramaiah had met Eswaran in China and whether he had asked him to invest in Karnataka.
"What was the gift he gave you? Was it a premium Hublot watch?" the BJP spokesperson sought to know from Mr Siddaramaiah. The Chief Minister rubbished all allegations levelled against him, saying he had addressed an investors' summit in China in 2013 and had met many people.
"I cannot recall who all I met. I went to the investor summit in 2013. Why is the BJP raising it now?" Mr Siddaramaiah told NDTV.
Categorically denying that he knew Vijay Eswaran or had received any gift from him, the Chief Minister hit back at the BJP-led central government.
"If there is any case against someone who has escaped from India, it's the Government of India that has to take action," said Mr Siddaramaiah.
The two men were declared absconders by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) in 2009 and yet the Chief Minister met them during his visit to a summit in China, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra told reporters in Bengaluru.
"In September 2013, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah went to attend a WEF (World Economic Forum) meeting in China and met two men declared absconders in 2009. The SFIO has called them national threat. Lakhs of crores have been duped by them. There was also a gift package handed over to Mr Siddaramaiah," alleged Mr Patra.
Mr Patra also sought to know if Mr Siddaramaiah had met Eswaran in China and whether he had asked him to invest in Karnataka.
Advertisement
Did not accept any gift from Vijay Eswaran, Siddaramaiah tells NDTV
"I cannot recall who all I met. I went to the investor summit in 2013. Why is the BJP raising it now?" Mr Siddaramaiah told NDTV.
Advertisement
"If there is any case against someone who has escaped from India, it's the Government of India that has to take action," said Mr Siddaramaiah.
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Private Sector Quota Bill To Be Taken Up In Next Cabinet Meet: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah Amid Huge Row, Karnataka Pauses Bill For Reservation In Private Sector Firms Karnataka Okays Bill Mandating 100% Quota For Kannadigas In Private Firms For These Posts Windows Systems Restarting, Throwing Blue Screen Of Death Due To This Error Bilkis Bano Convicts' Bail Pleas Dismissed. What Supreme Court Said On CCTV, Gym Trainer Picks Up Club, Hits Mumbai Man On Head During Workout Central Railways Jobs 2024: Applications For 2,424 Apprentice Posts Begin "Too Little Too Late": Ola CEO Slams Google For Slashing Maps' Fee Flights, Markets, Banks, Stock Exchange: Microsoft Outage Crippling Sectors Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.