I can only stop auction on 2 conditions: Otis

Los Angeles, Mar 5: The American auctioneer of Mahatma Gandhi"s personal items, James Otis has placed two conditions in front of the Indian Consulate to stop the memorabilia from auctioning. The auction is scheduled in New York at Antiquorum Auctioneers on Thursday, Mar 5.

The first condition is that the Indian government must agree to increase it's budget spending on healthcare for the poor and the second condition is to provide financial support and the good offices of Indian embassies to support educational events that use Gandhi items to promote Gandhian non-violent resistance in 78 countries around the world.

He has mentioned about 78 countries around the world which is one for each of the number of years Gandhiji lived.

Personal belongings of Gandhi -- his metal-rimmed glasses, pocket watch, a pair of sandals and a plate and bowl -- are up for auction at Antiquorum Auctioneers in New York.

So far the auction house has refused the Indian government"s offer to buy the items at the reserve price of $30,000, the initial reserve price set for the items.

OneIndia News