India rejects Otis' conditions on Gandhi memorabilia auction

New Delhi, Mar 5 (PTI) India Thursday rejected the
conditions set by the American auctioneer of Mahatma Gandhi's
personal items for stopping the memorabilia from going under
the hammer and is in touch with United States and
international legal agencies to get the articles back.

"Gandhiji himself would not have agreed to conditions.
The Government of India representing the sovereign people of
this republic cannot enter into such agreements where it
involves specific areas of allocation of resources," Minister
of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma said.

Union Cultiure Minister Ambika Soni said that New
Delhi is in touch with the United States and international
agencies to get the articles -- metal-rimmed glasses, pocket
watch, a pair of sandals and a plate and bowl -- back.

The Ministers' responses came after James Otis, the
auctioneer, set conditions for withdrawing the items from the
auction which included a "substantial" increase in India's
budget spending on health care of the poor. The memorabilia is
up for auction at Antiquorum Auctioneers in New York.

Sharma said he was sure that Otis is aware that New
Delhi has policy initiatives with "historic" allocations of
resources particularly for rural health programmes and the
education of the poor besides other pro-poor schemes.

On Otis' demand that New Delhi help its embassies in
promoting Gandhian ideals in 78 countries, Sharma told a
television channel that New Delhi is already incorporating
Gandhiji's vision.

Soni said the Delhi High Court has already stayed the
auction.

Gandhiji's grandson Tushar Gandhi termed Otis' demands
were "farfetched" and wondered whether the auctioneer has been
changing his demands and objectives too often.

"He has made the demand of GDP, spending on poor to be
increased...I think all those things are difficult for a
government to point blank agree on ... Otis also said that
there will be another condition," he said.

Gandhiji's granddaughter Tara G Bhattacharjee said
the United Nations have declared October two as a day of
non-violence and "so, Gandhiji is everybody's responsibility,
not just of Indians". PTI RAI
PMR