Modi’s monogrammed suit enters Guinness Book

Surat (Guj), Aug 20 (PTI) The monogrammed suit donnedby Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his meeting with USPresident Barack Obama in New Delhi last year, which hadkicked up a controversy, entered the Guinness World Records as"the most expensive suit sold at auction". The suit had gone under the hammer in February lastyear and was purchased for Rs 4.31 crore by Surat-baseddiamond trader Lalji Patel, who owns Dharmananda DiamondCompany. "It is a matter of happiness and pride that the suithas found a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. Wehad applied for the world record around five months back onthe suggestion of our company’s HR management team. Within acouple of months, we received a certificate acknowledging thatit was the world’s most expensive suit sold at an auction,"Hitesh Patel, son of Laljibhai, said here today. The suit, which has stripes with the name ‘NarendraDamodardas Modi’ woven into it in glittering gold letters, hasbeen placed inside a glass cabin at the reception of theDharmananda Diamond Company for visitors to view it, Patelsaid. The suit was reportedly prepared at a cost of Rs 10 lakhand was auctioned at a base price of Rs 11 lakh. The Guinness World Records acknowledges the suit asthe "most expensive suit (clothing) sold at auction is Rs43,131,311 and was bought by Laljibhai Tulsibhai Patel (India)in Surat, Gujarat, India on February 20, 2015." The money raised from the auction of the suit has beenearmarked for the Centre’s clean Ganga mission. After successfully bidding for the suit, ownerLaljibhai Patel had told the media that he wanted to dosomething for the country and this auction gave him a chance. "I always wanted to do something in the interest ofcountry. This event gave me a chance to do something innational interest, in this case for Clean Ganga Mission. Inever thought that this incredible suit will finally come tome," he had then said. The suit, which Modi had worn during Obama’s three-daystate visit to India in January last year, had kicked up apolitical row with opposition parties accusing the PM of’narcissism’. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had latched on it to accuseModi of heading a "suit-boot ki sarkar" which worked only forthe rich. PTI KA PD NPRT