Sena defends Modi on auction of monogrammed suit

Says parties criticising the move should instead auction stuff of their leaders

The Shiv Sena today came to the defence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the auction of his pinstripe monogrammed suit and said the two-piece ensemble was valued highly because of the person who wore it.

"Instead of criticising, Congress can auction the wardrobe and footwear of Rahul Gandhi and see what amount they fetch. Similarly, Arvind Kejriwal can auction his muffler while Lalu Prasad and Mulayam Singh Yadav can call for bidding of their belongings...The suit which fetched over Rs 4.31 crore is because of the person who wore it," an edit in party mouthpiece Saamana, said today.

"Modi plans to utilise the money for Ganga river cleaning and girl education. Modi wore the suit only once and builders, industrialists, diamond merchants made a beeline to buy it," it said.

About 455 items received as gifts including a T-shirt from Australian cricketer Bret Lee are under the hammer but according to reports they are not getting good response, the editorial noted.

Yesterday, the navy blue suit with Modi's name -- Narendra Damodardas Modi--which he had worn for Summit talks with US President Barack Obama in New Delhi went to a diamond trader from Surat Lalji Patel and his son after intense bidding on the closing day of the three-day auction.

The suit, said to be worth Rs 10 lakh, had kicked up a political storm with the Opposition, particularly the Congress, saying that wearing such an expensive garment showed how alienated the PM is from the poor of this country.

The party had also called the auction a "damage control" excercise and demanded that the exercise be stopped and the suit deposited with the 'Toshakhana' (treasury).

The dress had also been slammed by another party leader Jairam Ramesh, who called the PM a "megalomaniac".

It was tailored by 'Jade Blue' in Ahmedabad, a clothing chain that handles Modi's wardrobe.