Congress workers to protest the auction of Modi’s suit

TNN

Surat, 19 Jan 2015: The Congress workers in the city have organised a protest programme today at the venue where the much hyped pinstripe suit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going under the hammer. 

 

Congress workers said that when most parts of the state are under swine flu threat and hundreds have succumbed to the disease in the last one month, PM Modi is trying to gain due publicity by offering his gifted pinstripe suit for the public auction at Surat. 

 

The pinstripe suit of PM Modi is being displayed at the three-day long exhibition-cum-auction organised by the Toshakhana at the Science Centre at Ghod Dod road in the city. The auction that started on Wednesday, received an overwhelming response with one of the textile trader quoting a whopping Rs. 1.21 crore. The auction will continue till February 20 and the final bids for the suit are expected to cross the Rs. 1.21 crore mark. 

 

Apart from the suit, 455 items received by Modi as gifts and 361 received by chief minister Anandiben Patel has been displayed for auction-cum-exhibition. The funds raised from Modi’s gift items will go to the Clean Ganga Mission, whereas the Chief Minster’s gift items will be used for girls’ education in the state. 

 

(PM Narendra Modi’s monogrammed bandhgala suit on display in Surat where it is being auctioned for charity.)

Aslam Cyclewala, spokesperson, Surat City Congress Committee, told TOI, "PM Modi received the pinstripe suit as gift from someone. Thus, it is the property of the nation. This controversial suit should be immediately deposited with the Toshakhana." 

 

Cyclewala added, "Around 17 people have died in the city of swine flu and daily 10 to 15 people are being admitted in hospitals with the flu symptoms. People here are facing shortage of medicines like Tamiflu. Under these circumstances, it is really absurd to auction the suit." 

 

The Congress workers are expected to gather at the venue at about 3:30 pm. They will shout slogans demanding suspension of the ongoing auction of Modi’s pinstripe suit.