Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai’s ‘expensive’ Rafale watch triggers debate over corruption, ‘nationalism’

“I am wearing a watch made out of parts from the Rafale jets. 500 such watches were made under the Rafale special limited-edition collection. Though I am a staunch nationalist, I am not lucky enough to fly a Rafale fighter jet. That’s the reason why I use this watch. Out of the 500 watches, mine is the 149^th piece. I will wear the watch until my last breath,” he told reporters.

Mr @annamalai_k கட்டியுள்ள watch விலை 8,00,000 மேல்.அதன் நிறுவனம் ஆடம்பர luxury watch செய்யும் bell and ross என்ற சுவிச்சர்லாந்த் நிறுவனம்!

அண்ணாமலை இதில் தேசியவாதி என பெருமை கொள்ள எதுவும் இல்லை. அதன் விலையும் குறைவு இல்லை இதை இவருக்கு யார் பரிசாக கொடுத்தார் என்பது தான் கேள்வி? pic.twitter.com/FZLxxMxX8g

— R.Rajiv Gandhi (@rajiv_dmk) December 17, 2022

“Rules of war started changing after India procured the Rafale fighter jets. After Rafale, the high-altitude warfare has changed and India’s reach has substantially improved,” Annamalai added while explaining the significance of his watch.

Within hours, Tamil Nadu Electricity minister Senthil Balaji, who is often at loggerheads with Annamalai, took to Twitter wondering how Annamalai bough a wrist watch “worth over ₹5 lakh” when he claimed that his “sole assets were four goats”. While challenging Annamalai to produce the receipt of purchase of his watch within one hour of his tweets, the DMK minister also took a dig at the BJP leader’s “nationalism”.

எளியவர்களும் வாங்கி மகிழலாம்.

வெளிநாட்டு வாட்சை கட்டியிருக்கும் தேசியவியாதி, மன்னிக்க தேசியவாதி, ஆடு வளர்த்து சேர்த்து 5 லட்ச ரூபாய் வாட்ச் கட்டும் அளவுக்கு உயர்ந்தது எப்படி?

வார்ரூம் வழியாக தொழிலதிபர்களை மிரட்டினால் இப்படியெல்லாம் பணம் கிடைக்குமா? (2/3)

— V.Senthilbalaji (@V_Senthilbalaji) December 17, 2022

Once again, this evoked a rebuttal from Annamalai who stated that he was “more than ready” to take on the DMK on the issue of “corruption”.

He stated that he would release the details of his Rafale watch, which was purchased in May 2021, before he became the state BJP president, along with its bill; his lifetime income tax statements, bank statements for 10 years; details of his earnings as an IPS officer from August 2011 till the time of his resignation; information on all the immovable and moveable properties he owns, including the number of sheeps and cows, on the day he kickstarts his padayatra across the state ahead of the 2024 general elections.

“If anybody can find one paise of property more than what I have declared anywhere in the world, then all of my property will be given to the government. Now I leave it to my TN brothers and sisters to decide whether they want to seek this from the DMK party leaders as well,” Annamalai added.

Since @arivalayam wants to fight on the issue of corruption with me, I’m more than ready to do that.

The details of my Rafale watch, which was purchased in May 2021, along with its bill (before I became TN BJP President), All of my lifetime Income Tax statements, … (1/5)

— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) December 18, 2022

The BJP, of course, did not stop with just that. The party IT Wing also used the opportunity to share posts about the expensive things owned by Chief Minister and DMK chief MK Stalin, his son Udhayanidhi Stalin and other party leaders in a bid to pay back the DMK with the same coin.

அறிவாலய கொத்தடிமை Mr @rajiv_dmk இந்த காரின் மதிப்பு சுமார் 2.5 cr. நீங்கள் watch பற்றி பேசலாமா??? https://t.co/NcbAin6Xto pic.twitter.com/WTCFCNNDkf

— Amar Prasad Reddy (@amarprasadreddy) December 18, 2022