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Updated: Feb 10, 2018 22:21 IST

Congress president Rahul Gandhi was presented a Rs 60 lakh gold coated statue by Independent MLA B Nagendra after he joined the party at a public rally in Hosapete on Saturday.

Nagendra presented a Valmiki statue to Gandhi on the stage after he was welcomed into the Congress party.

“The gold-coated statue cost Rs 60 lakh,” Nagendra told reporters.

Along with Nagendra, BJP MLA from Vijaynagar BS Anand Singh also formally joined the party at the rally.

The BJP in a series of tweets, has come down on Gandhi and chief minister Siddaramaiah for inducting Nagendra and Singh, who are facing charges of illegal mining.

BJP Karnataka Unit president BS Yeddyurappa criticised chief minister Siddaramaiah for inducting Singh into Congress, saying it proved him to be a “corrupt opportunist.”

“Dear 10% CM Siddaramaiah, I would like to remind you, your padayatre in 2013 about the mining sector. Now, inducting Anand Singh into the Congress camp has only proved you are a corrupt opportunist. Case of amnesia,” he tweeted.