Congress workers stage protest against Modi's gift auction

Congress workers staged a protest on Thursday outside the Science Convention Centre in Surat against the ongoing auction of items gifted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging it to be an act of "self publicity". Congress workers rushed to the spot and raised slogans against Modi and the ongoing auction of items including the controversial pin-striped monogrammed suit worn by the Prime Minister.

"Swine flu cases are on the rise in the city, the state and also in the country, but the BJP government has neglected poor patients. Now they hold such extravaganzas in the name of cleaning Ganga. The people of Varanasi should ask Modi why he did not fulfil the promises he made," Surat city Congress President Naishadh Desai told reporters.

"Modi has organised this extravaganza merely for self publicity and personal gain. This property belongs to the nation and certainly not to him," Desai said.

The Modi government has failed to curb price rise and bring back black money, Desai said. He alleged that Modi has hurt religious sentiments of the people since idols of gods were also put up to be auctioned.

Later, the police detained around five to six Congress workers including its Surat city President Naishad Desai and took them to Umra police station. "We have detained them since they did not seek permission to protest here," police inspector Shivbahadursinh Rana said.

Meanwhile, some BJP sympathisers present at the exhibition venue also raised anti-Congress and pro-Modi slogans after their rivals were detained by the police.