NEW DELHI – An Indian lawmaker has appeared in Parliament dressed likeAdolf Hitler with a toothbrush moustache and wearing a khaki coat withswastika symbols on his pocket and arm.

Naramalli Sivaprasa demanded more funds for the development of his statein southern India. He also raised his hand in a Nazi salute for the mediaon Thursday. His appearance did not trigger any protests from legislators.

He said he wanted to send a message to Prime Minister Narendra Modi not tofollow Hitler. He complained that Modi had gone back on a promise toprovide extra funds for his Andhra Pradesh state.

“He does not get the pulse of what people want and I want to urge him tonot be like him (Hitler),” he said.

Modi’s government denies the charge.

In protest, Sivaprasa’s powerful regional group, The Telugu Desam Party,broke its alliance with the Modi government in March. It alsounsuccessfully tried to bring down the government through a no-confidencemotion last month in Parliament.

Sivaprasa is used to dressing up differently, like a farmer, a cattleherder, a Muslim cleric and a woman to press different issues.

Hitler remains a figure of fascination in India, where the Holocaust is notwell known, and is widely seen more as a strong leader than a genocidaldictator. His book, “Mein Kampf,” can be found in many bookstores, andbootleg copies are regularly sold in the streets of New Delhi and otherlarge cities. Agencies