Gift to Modi was bought with own money, says Dy CM DK Shivakumar

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday clarified that the Ganesha idol he presented to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the launch of Namma Metro's Yellow Line in Bengaluru on Sunday was a souvenir he bought with his money.

Shivakumar, in a statement, denied reports circulating on social media that the idol was bought by Bengaluru South MLA M Krishnappa (BJP), calling the claims "false and far from the truth." The idol, he said, had been inspected by the Special Protection Group (SPG) before he gifted it to the PM. No government funds were used to buy it, he said.

PM Modi spoke at the IIIT-B auditorium in electronic city after participating in the Bangalore Metro events where Shivakumar handed the gift.