Bengal's opposition parties have been alleging that purported Saradha scam mastermind Sudipta Sen had bought the painting at the exhorbitant price. But the Trinamool Congress has denied it.
"You are a good painter. I have heard earlier your paintings used to be sold for Rs.4 lakh, Rs. 8 lakh, Rs.15 lakh. But what is the reason behind your painting once being sold for Rs.1.80 crore."
Dripping sarcasm, Modi said the country is proud to have such a painter, but questioned who purchased the painting.
"How many paintings did he buy? Who all have bought your paintings? And at what prices? People of Bengal want to know."
Responding to Modi's attack, Trinamool national spokesperson Derek O'Brien called Modi the "Butcher of Gujarat" and accused him of making personal attacks as he "has no answers to Bengal's development model". Challenging Modi, he said the BJP leader should either prove his allegation or face defamation charges.
