'PM Modi very big salesman, Cong failed to market product'

The BJP came back to power as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a "very big salesman" while the Congress failed to market its product in the Lok Sabha polls, Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said Monday.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha on the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address, Chowdhury launched a scathing attack on the government and Prime Minister Modi, with the Chair ordering expunging of some of his comments, considered unparliamentary.

"Our Prime Minister is a very big salesman.We (Congress) have been unable to sell our product, that is why we lost(Lok Sabha elections)," he said.

Taking a swipe at Union minister Pratap Sarangi, who had initiated the discussion, he said Sarangi crossed limits in his praise of Modi, inviting sharp reactions from the treasury benches as they referred to "India is Indira, Indira is India" remarks made by Congress leaders when Indira Gandhi was Prime Minister.

Chowdhury said his party does not to criticise the President.

"We want to lambast government for its failure on various issues," he said.

Targeting the Modi government, Chowdhury said the country is reeling under drought, but the government is not worried.

He said BJP MPs did not take steps to alleviate miseries of the people as they think Modi will do everything.

"They think that praising Modi is sufficient, he will help them sail through (Modi baba par lagayenge),"he said.

Chowdhury also reminded NDA members that several infrastructure projects were initiated by successive Congress governments.

He said several major public sector undertakings (PSUs) were also set up under the Congress rule.

Chowdhury alleged the BJP government renamed several schemes initiated by the Congress government to benefit the poor.

Hitting back at the BJP for alleging a scam in the sale of 2G spectrum, he said if there was a wrongdoing why are UP Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress President Rahul Gandhi not in jail.

"Why are they still in Parliament", he quipped.

He also dubbed the ruling dispensation as a "compliment- addicted government.