India disappointed at losing Gandhi`s Johannesburg house

New Delhi, Oct 7 (PTI) The Indian government Wednesday
expressed disappointment over a French company snapping up
Mahatma Gandhi's Johannesburg house through Sotheby's auction
firm, but said it will continue efforts to acquire the
heritage property through a public sector company.

"The matter concerns national sentiment and I will leave
no stone unturned to acquire the historic property and declare
it a national monument," Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal told
PTI.

Coal India Ltd, under the control of the Coal Ministry,
had approached the owners of the house where the father of
nation lived a century ago, for acquiring the property.

"The Ministry, through CIL had approached the sellers of
the house and was ready to pay any amount they wished for.
Negotiations were on but unfortunately, despite giving a
month's deadline, they did not contact us," Jaiswal said.

He said CIL board had taken a decision that its employees
would part with a day's salary towards a fund for acquiring
the house. "I have already announced to give my one month's
salary besides making efforts for arranging more funds."

Voyageurs du Monde, a Paris Stock Exchange listed
company, has bought 'the Kraal', located at the leafy suburb
of Orchards in Johannesburg at a price believed to be almost
twice the asking price of USD 377,029. (MORE) PTI