Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary, Congress leader in the Lok Sabha, on Monday demanded that Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman's 'gunslinger moustache' be declared the 'national moustache'. He also said that Abhinandan Varthaman should be awarded for his bravery.

Addressing the lower house of Parliament, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary said, "Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman should be awarded and his moustache should be made 'national moustache'."

Abhinandan Varthaman's moustache became the talk of the town after he returned two days after he was captured by Pakistan when his MiG-21 crashed in the country.

Congress Lok Sabha leader, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury in Lok Sabha: Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman should be awarded and his moustache should be made 'national moustache'. (file pic of Abhinandan Varthaman) pic.twitter.com/0utFf61wwl

— ANI (@ANI) June 24, 2019

Abhinandan Varthaman was captured after the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) violated the Indian airspace and shot down his MiG 21 aircraft in an engagement at the Line of Control (LoC).

The Wing Commander was released by Pakistan two days later "as a peace gesture". Addressing a joint session of the National Assembly, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said the India-Pakistan situation should not "get out of hand" and announced that Abhinandan Varthaman will be released.

Abhinandan Varthaman was released on March 1, 2019.

PM Modi big salesman, Congress failed to market product: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary

Speaking in the Lok Sabha on the Motion of Thanks to President Ram Nath Kovind's address, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a "very big salesman" while, he said, "the Congress failed to market its product in the Lok Sabha polls".

Targeting the Modi government, Chowdhury said the country is reeling under drought, but the government is not worried. He said BJP MPs did not take steps to alleviate miseries of the people as they think PM Modi will do everything.

"They think that praising Modi is sufficient, he will help them sail through [Modi baba par lagayenge],"he said. Adhir Chowdhury also reminded the NDA members that several infrastructure projects were initiated by the Congress governments.

Adhir Chowdhury said several major public sector undertakings (PSUs) were also set up under the Congress rule. He alleged the BJP government renamed several schemes initiated by the Congress government to benefit the poor.