'Why Doesn't PM Bring his Mother Home?' Asks Rattled Congress

San Jose/New Delhi: At the receiving end of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's barbs from the US, a furious Congress today said he needed "very serious counselling", and added that it was "disturbing that the country is represented by a showman" who changes his clothes several times a day.

This morning, PM Modi, while addressing the Indian community in San Jose, targeted the Congress on corruption with a veiled reference at Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra. Shortly afterwards, the Congress' Anand Sharma mocked PM Modi's emotional moment at the Facebook headquarters while talking about his mother, now 95. (Live updates of PM Modi's US visit)

"The PM broke down yesterday remembering his mother's sacrifices. Why doesn't he fulfil his duty of being a responsible son and bring his mother home? She wasn't even present for his swearing in. She wasn't with him even during his 12 years as Gujarat chief minister," Anand Sharma said.

While answering Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg's question about his mother's role in his life during a townhall yesterday, PM Modi had choked up and said: "She worked in neighbours' homes cleaning dishes, filling water...There are lakhs of mothers who have given up their whole lives for the dreams of their children."

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The PM's older brother Prahlad Modi explained: "Every year, he visits his mother during his birthdays. This year, he could not and that must have hurt him deeply."

But the Congress questioned PM Modi's statements about his modest childhood, saying these were exaggerated.

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"He changes his dress several times a day. Other leaders don't have time for a fashion show like Modi," said Mr Sharma, also accusing the prime minister of "dragging the political narrative of India to the gutter."

Earlier, PM Modi had said during his address to the Indian community in San Jose: "In our country it doesn't take much for allegations to come up against politicians...This person made 50 crores, that son made 250 crores, that daughter made 500 crores, someone's damaad (son-in-law) made 1000 crores..." The comment was seen as a reference to Robert Vadra and his controversial land deals.