Surat, Feb 20 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi's famous 'name-striped' suit went under the hammer for a staggering Rs.4.31 crore at a charity auction here Friday, officials said.
The final winning bid was placed by top-notch diamond merchant Lalji Patel, chairman of the Dharmanandan Diamonds Pvt. Ltd. of Surat.
The suit was the star attraction among 455 items that went under the hammer. The proceeds of the auction will go towards the prime minister's Clean Ganga mission.
The suit, which attracted global publicity, was designed by Ahmedabad-based designer Ramesh Kumar of Modi's regular tailor Jade Blue.
It has the name 'Narendra Damodardas Modi' weaved into it in glittering gold letters.
The suit kicked up a political row with opposition parties accusing the prime minister of indulging in 'narcissism' and questioned how a 'tea-vendor' could afford the expensive suit, reportedly costing around Rs.1 million.
At the three-day auction, it was put on a life-size mannequin resembling Modi, as the bidders examined it closely before announcing their bids.
All the 455 items - which went on auction Wednesday at the SMC Science Convention Centre - were gifted to Modi in India and abroad in the past nine months.
They included one gold article, 13 silver, 46 brass-copper-metallic artefacts, 14 ceramic and glass items, 31 wooden articles, 99 picture frames, 237 clothes including T-shirts from Australia, and 14 miscellaneous items.
Since his days as the Gujarat chief minister, Modi introduced the tradition to auction such gifts for various charities and had raised around Rs.95 crore in his 13 years in the saddle.
Indian cricket team captain and opener batsman Rohit Sharma scored 53 runs in his second group ma
China is negotiating on one side to resolve the border dispute in Ladakh, while on the other hand
Board Exams 2021: Due to Corona, these states postponed board exams of 10th and 12th - see full list
New Delhi With the surge in new cases of coronavirus, the situation is becoming worrisome. New ca
New Delhi, Feb 16 (IANS) India and Sri Lanka have signed a civil nuclear deal, said Prime Minist
The third match of the 5-Test series between India and England is being played at Headingley, Lee
Rohit Sharma can make a special record in the second ODI between India and West Indies to be play
The Indian team, which has sealed the series in Indore, will face Australia in the third and last
Russia's big charge: American warship tried to infiltrate our waters, we chased and chased
Russia's Defense Ministry alleged on Friday that we stopped a US Navy warship from infiltrating i
There has been a huge cut in the price of this best selling phone of Xiaomi, know the new price
Best Xiaomi Phone On Amazon: If you want to buy the best phone under 20 thousand then buy Xiaomi
Ranbir Kapoor ready to marry Alia Bhatt said- I will take seven rounds soon, but...
The news of Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt's wedding has been in the news for quite some time. Rece