| Font Size |
Responding to the US Justice Department's queries, a senior cultural affairs ministry official said, "there has been no change in our stand and we have reiterated that these Gandhi articles belong to the Navjivan Trust and the auction is illegal."
US Justice Department had raised queries to the Indian government about the auctioned items of Gandhi. Industrialist Vijay Mallya won the bid for USD1.8 million. However, he could not acquire them because of the legalities involved with the auction.
The items on sale were Gandhi's metal-rimmed glasses, a pocket watch, a brass plate, a bowl and a pair of sandals used by the Mahatma.
"We have responded to the queries through the Ministry of External Affairs and we have maintained that all these items are owned by the Navjivan Trust, founded by Gandhi himself.
"No one has the right to utilise it for commercial purpose including auctioning or sale," he said.
Discuss this story on expressindia forums
|
|
Dirty Politics by the present rulling party. Congress and UPA Govt got nothing to do with this keep your hands off this.
The government should stay out of this. The items are with an Indian and legally bought at an auction. He has agreed to make them available for public viewing. What else is required? Will it be any better if Navjeevan trust has the items? Why were the items not aought before they were auctioned?