Applying brakes on the wardrobe controversy of Prime Minister

the prime minister office has clarified that personal attire of PM is not borne by the government office. The information was sought by RTI activist

who sought information about expenditure on wardrobe of PMs since 1998 in which Atal Bihari Vajpayee and

are also included.

The RTI activist Sabharwal had sought the information from PMO to give details about the expenditure done (year wise) on the clothing of Atal Bihari Vajpayee from March 19 1998 till May 22 2004. Similar information was sought for Manmohan Singh during his tenure from May 22, 2004 till May 26 2014. For the PM Narendra Modi the information was sought from May 26 2014 till now.

The PMO in the reply has clearly stated that the information sought is personal in nature and does not form part of office records. The PMO office also mentioned that it may be noted that expenditure on personal attire of PM is not borne on government account.

After receiving the reply the RTI activist Rohit Sabharwal said that many people assume that huge amount of expenditure is borne by the union government upon the attire of the PM but now from this RTI reply it is clear that government is not bearing any expenditure of the PM's Clothing. He said that he had filed this RTI on December 9 2017 just to explore whether allegations levelled by the political parties especially the

(AAP) supremo

on the PM are right or wrong. He said earlier he had decided to file RTI only for PM Modi but then he thought he should ask about others also so as to get comparison as who is spending how much on clothing.

State general secretary of

Pawan Dewan said that it might be right that government is not spending anything on PM Modi' wardrobe. "These expensive suits can be gifted to him," said he while adding that instead of paying attention towards the country he is more concerned about his looks. Regarding former PM Manmohan Singh he said that there was no controversy over his clothes and he was a simple man.

Co-president of AAP

however commented he is not aware of others but regarding Modi PM office might not be providing the actual information. He said moreover he is PM and nobody can ask him for money which is understood.

State general secretary of BJP Jeevan Gupta said that RTI information has revealed the fact that opposition parties were raising hue and cry about nothing and since they do not have other issue they comment on the wardrobe of PM. He said that if PM of country is wearing good clothes then there is nothing wrong in this as he is representing India. Gupta said that he had once worn a designer suit which was auctioned and amount was used for swachh bharat mission works.