Indian PM asks govt to 'enter' auction to procure Gandhi items

New Delhi, Mar 5 (PTI) As uncertainty continued on
India getting back Mahatma Gandhi's personal belongings which
are up for auction in New York, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh has stepped in directing that all possible steps, which
may include entering into the bidding process, should be taken
to procure the memorabilia.

"Prime Minister has directed me to do whatever
possible... the bottomline is to procure the memorabilia,"
Culture Minister Ambika Soni told reporters as Government made
last ditch efforts to stop the auction of Gandhi's personal
belongings.

"We will enter the auction if required as a last
resort," to bring back the items to the country, she said. The
personal belongings include Gandhi's metal-rimmed glasses,
pocket watch, a pair of sandals and a plate and bowl.

Her remarks came close on the heels of Minister of
State for External Affairs Anand Sharma rejecting conditions
set by James Otis, the American auctioneer, for stopping the
auction.

Otis wanted the Indian government to shift priorities
from military spending to health care, especially for the
poor.

Asked whether India would go for bidding if it failed
to prevent the auction, Soni said our attitude is to avoid the
commercialisation of Gandhi items as it was against Gandhi's
thinking."

Pressed further what India would do if talks with
auctioner fails, she said "as a last resort we would acquire
the items through bidding."

Otis has expressed readiness to negotiate and donate
the items to India if it offers "something very generous" to
its poorest people. The memorabilia is up for auction at
Antiquorum Auctioneers in New York.

Rejecting the conditions set by him, Sharma said,
"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."

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. PTI ARU
PMR