India to bring back Bapu's legacy on sale

New Delhi, Mar 4: Union Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma has said that India would take all steps, including bidding, for bringing back the personal belongings of Mahatma Gandhi, which are up for auction in New York.

The belongings of Mahatma Gandhi that are up for sale include trademark wire-rimmed glasses, a pair of sandals, a pocket watch, a bowl and a plate.

As per media reports, India's Foreign Ministry would ask the US State Department to prevent the auction. In an effort to stop the auction, a city High court has put an interim stay on the auction.

The injunction by Delhi court however has no validity in United States, but might strengthen the argument in stalling the auction.

The auction, the largest collection of Gandhi's possessions on sale at a time, is to be held on Thursday and is expected to fetch some 300,000 dollars.

A great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, Tushar Gandhi has appealed to Indians for money to buy some of the leader's personal belongings in a New York auction and keep them in a museum.

Tushar Gandhi has launched a 'people's initiative' to raise funds to buy the items. But he is disappointed with the response from the government and the corporate sector.

ANI