India Thursday swore to bring the items of its national icon Mahatma Gandhi back home no matter what the price, as the items are bound to be sold in a New York auction house in a few hours' time. (Xinhua file Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    NEW DEIHI, March 5 (Xinhua) -- India Thursday swore to bring the items of its national icon Mahatma Gandhi back home no matter what the price, as the items are bound to be sold in a New York auction house in a few hours' time.

    In a stern statement, Indian Minister of Tourism and Culture Ambika Soni said the commercialization of Gandhi's items is absolutely unacceptable to India as such act is against the ideals and principles of the Father of the Indian Nation.

    She expressed her confidence that the items will be brought back to India at last and that India will trace the whereabouts of these items to the end.

    Minister of state for external affairs Anand Sharma also appealed to United States collector James Otis to withdraw from selling the Gandhi relics, including a Zenith pocket watch, steel-rimmed spectacles, a pair of sandals and an eating bowl and plate.

    The auction is due to take place in New York's auction house, Antiquorum Auctioneers, with a reserve price of between 20,000 and 30,000 U.S. dollars.

    "We have made it clear that Gandhi's artifacts are our national heritage and therefore our shared heritage. We are duty bound to protect it," said Sharma. "It goes against the philosophy to have the auction of his memorabilia in this way, especially for a man who did not believe in wealth and materialism."

    In a response to demand to stop the auction by India's Consul General In New York, Otis said he would withdraw the Gandhi items from the auction if India agrees "either to substantially increase the amount spent on healthcare for the poor or to support educational events to promote Gandhian non-violent resistance in 78 countries," "one each for the number of years Gandhi graced us with his life on the planet" in reference to the age of Gandhi.

    India has offered to buy the items from Otis if the latter refuses to donate them to India. a group of overseas Indians engaged in real estate business plans to bid for the items on behalf of the Indian government. The consulate in New York is also said to be contacting a New York court with a Delhi High Court order ordering a stop of the auction.