Modi’s controversial suit sold for 43.1mln Indian rupees

A controversial suit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that bears his name in gold pinstripes has been won by a diamond trading firm for 43.1 million Indian rupees (nearly $700,000) in a three-day-long auction on Friday.

Modi wore the tailored suit during his meeting with US President Barack Obama and was ridiculed by his political opponents.

The Indian premier announced to auction the suit to raise money for a project he is championing to clean the Ganges river.

According to Indian media, the winning bid came from Dharmanandan Diamonds Private Limited on the last day of the auction in Surat.

“It is worth the price. Our mission was to get the PM Modi's suit at any cost and contribute to the Ganga cleanliness mission. We are happy that the city has contributed to the mission and the suit stays with us. Now, we plan to display this as memorabilia at the upcoming SDB project," said Hitesh Patel, managing director, Dharmanandan Diamonds.

Congress party Vice President Rahul Gandhi had cricticised Modi for wearing the expensive suit saying he should instead concentrate on delivering on his promises to India's poorest.

About a third of the world's extreme poor live in India, up from a fifth in 1981, the World Bank says. The country lags on other social indicators such as child malnutrition.

For the auction PM Modi had donated about 450 objects given since being appointed prime minister in May after winning the biggest parliamentary majority in three decades.

The gifts he has received include silver cufflinks, a ceramic vase, a carpet and a silver box with precious stones, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.