Following the furore and row over his luxury watch, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Saturday said that people are trying to malign his image as they can’t tolerate leaders from “backward classes”, reports the Bangalore Mirror.

JDS party chief H.D.Kumaraswamy had earlier alleged that Siddaramaiah was wearing a stolen luxury watch.

The New Indian Express quotes Siddaramaiah, “Kumaraswamy and his family members are unable to digest the fact that a backward community leader has become the CM. They are all jealous of me. That is the reason why Kumaraswamy is tarnishing my image by levelling false and frivolous allegations”.

“Leaders from backward classes are not looked upon as CM material in this state nor are they allowed to complete their term. If you look at history, S Bangarappa was removed in less than two years. Similarly, M Veerappa Moily too was not allowed complete his term,” the Chief Minister is quoted in Bangalore Mirror.

Refuting charges that he is accustomed to eating on a silver plate, Siddaramaiah said “How can it be possible? Is he suggesting that I take a silver plate and glass with me wherever I go? Can anybody do that? There should be some sense while making such allegations,” he said.