India to do everything possible to get back Gandhi items

New York/New Delhi, Mar 5 (PTI) As suspense mounted
over whether Mahatma Gandhi's five personal items would be
auctioned in New York, India Thursday rejected conditions set
by its owner to call off the sale but vowed to do "whatever it
takes" with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh directing
that the memorabilia be reclaimed at any cost.

Shortly after US-based collector James Otis set new
conditions include that India shift priorities from military
spending to health care especially for the poor, the Indian
government stood firm in its response.

In New York, Otis said he will agree to stop the
planned auction by Antiquorum Auctioneers tomorow in principle
if the Indian government agrees for an agreement on his
proposal.

"I have agreed in principle to cancel the auction
provided I am able to reach an agreement on the proposal I
have made," Otis told PTI in New York hours before the
auction.

Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma
said the conditions infringed on the country's sovereignty.

"The government of India, representing the sovereign
people of this republic, cannot enter into agreements where it
involves specific areas of allocation of resources," Sharma
said, adding Gandhi "would not have agreed to conditions."

Tourism Minister Ambika Soni said "Prime Minister has
directed me to do whatever possible. I have the Prime
Minister's instructions that we would not like to have
these items be auctioned from one party to another, the
bottomline is to procure the memorabilia."

"We will offer whatever it takes to make sure these
things come back to Gandhi's motherland," said Soni, adding,
"We will enter the auction if required as a last resort" to
bring back the items to the country. The personal items to be
auctioned were Gandhi's metal-rimmed glasses, pocket watch, a
pair of sandals and a plate and bowl.

Soni said the glasses and other items "were tokens
given to individuals in recognition of their Gandhian values."

Their sale meant commercialisation of his belongings
and a repudiation of what he stood for.

"We will offer whatever it takes to make sure these
things come back to Gandhi's motherland," Sonia said.

Otis said his proposed deal to stop the action would
have required India to "substantially increase the proportion
of the Indian government budget spent on health care for the
poor during the next decade."

Also, India would promote events in 78 countries --
one for each of Gandhi's years alive -- "to promote Gandhian
non-violent resistance" and "encourage the study of Gandhian
nonviolence."

"With that, the auction is called off," Otis said.

Otis said he had a lawyer ready to go to Antiquorum
and retrieve the items which he claimed will be donated to the
Indian government if it agrees to the deal.

Otis, a California-based peace activist and
documentary maker, said he would receive no money.

Antiquorum Wednesday insisted the sale would take
place and put an estimate of 20,000 to 30,000 dollars on the
items, which will sell as a single lot. PTI TEAM
PMR