How can Modi call himself 'fakir' when he wears suits worth lakhs, asks NCP leader

Modi said a rally yesterday, 'I am a fakir ... Jhola ley kar chaley jayenge but I'm being hounded as if I've committed crime'

Senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar today hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his "fakir" remark, saying how can someone call himself a hermit if he changes dresses thrice in a day and wears suits worth lakhs of rupees.

"He calls himself fakir. But, how can a person be called 'fakir', who is changing dresses thrice in a day and wearing suits worth lakhs of rupees," Pawar said at a gathering of NCP workers here.

Addressing a rally at Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh yesterday, Modi had said, "I am being hounded as if I have committed some crime by waging a battle against graft. But, what can my opponents do to me? I am a fakir (hermit)...Jhola ley kar chaley jayenge (I will exit with the few belongings I have)."

Referring to long queues outside banks and ATMs, the former Maharashtra minister said before coming to the power in 2014, BJP had promised "acche din" (better days), which are "yet to come".

Criticising the Centre for taking demonetisation decision "arbitrarily", he said, "We too were in power, however, never took any decision arbitrarily."

Pawar also took a dig at a march, organised by Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Kakade here today supporting demonetisation, saying those who are opposing the move do not get a nod to carry out the march, while others get the permission.