NEW DELHI:Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to put his monogrammed suit for auction evoked conflicting reactions from across the political spectrum. As the main Opposition parties including the Congress and the TMC saw it as an exercise at damage control, the BJP said the Congress was trying to lower political standards by raising such issues.
As the auction of the gifts received by the PM, including the suit worn by him during US President Barack Obama’s visit last month, were conducted in Surat in Gujarat to generate funds for the Clean Ganga Mission, the Congress took potshots at the government. “This is happening three weeks after the suit was worn by Modi... This is a damage control exercise. Damage control of his reputation,” Congress general secretary and spokesperson Ajay Maken said. “Wearing a Rs 10 lakh suit was criticised not only in India, but globally... People didn’t like the Prime Minister wearing the (expensive) suit while meeting the US President,” Maken added.
Earlier, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, had ridiculed Modi during the Delhi election campaign. The TMC also said it was a damage control exercise. Meanwhile, the AAP said, “The sale of the suit is nothing but marketing itself.”