Congress and BJP clashed over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks in the US with the opposition party accusing him of dragging the political narrative to the "gutter level" by trading barbs at it and Robert Vadra, and the ruling party retorting by targeting Sonia and Rahul Gandhi.
In a no-holds-barred attack, Congress said Modi needs "very serious counselling".
Congress senior spokesman Anand Sharma also sought an independent inquiry into organisation of public events for the PM during his foreign tours and the source of "millions of dollars" required for hosting them.
Hitting back, BJP said Congress has become the voice of "untruth, malice and utter frustration" and wondered if it had become "trapped in an inept leadership".
In his speech in San Jose, Modi made a veiled attack on UPA regime on corruption and took a swipe at Vadra, the Congress President's son-in-law, saying there were allegations of politicians and their families making crores of rupees while his government has no graft charge.
"In our country it doesn't take much for allegations to come up against politicians... Someone made 50 crores, someone's son made 250 crores, (someone's) daughter made 500 crores, (someone's) damaad (son-in-law) made 1000 crores," Modi said.
Referring to Modi getting emotional and breaking down while talking about his mother, the Congress spokesman said, "true to his characteristic style, the PM once again engaged in theatrics, emotion and drama, making boastful claims".
Sharma raised questions about Modi's statements that he sold tea as a child and that his mother became an housemaid to look after him. These claims about himself were "not correct", Sharma said, adding in his childhood Modi used to manage the counter in his uncle's canteen.
If Modi considered himself a powerful leader, then why has he not ensured that his mother stayed with him.
"Is it not the duty of a son to look after the well-being of his mother," he said recalling that Modi was chief minister of Gujarat for 12 years and said then and even now he has not brought her to his home.
He did not also honour her by bringing her to his swearing-in ceremony as PM in New Delhi last year, Sharma added. "So, stop crying outside. Do your duty as a son and bring her to your house".
"The Prime Minister is misusing his official visits abroad and we demand an independent inquiry (into the rallies)...With 100s of millions of dollars spent in their organisation with activists of the RSS and others going months ahead for preparations", he said.
