No many takers for Modi memorabilia in Rajkot

The exhibition-cum-auction of gifts received by Chief Minister Narendra Modi came to an end in the city on Wednesday with the show getting a tepid response

The exhibition-cum-auction of gifts received by Chief Minister Narendra Modi came to an end in the city on Wednesday with the show getting a tepid response.

In all,1,146 articles with collective offset value of Rs 11 lakh were put up for auction at the Shamji Velji Virani Multipurpose High School on Tagore Road since July 24. The articles included 575 shawls,50 turbans,idols of gods and goddesses,statue of Mahatma Gandhi,paintings,swords,bows and arrows,a replica of the birthplace of Dr B R Ambedkar and photograph of Mahabat Makbara,an ASI protected monument in Junagadh. At the end of the extended show,around 130 articles went under the hammer and the collection stood at around Rs 10 lakh only.

A silver replica of the Kirti Toran of Vadnagar fetched Rs 1.11 lakh against its offset price of Rs 9,500 while a sword gifted to Modi in 2011 got Rs 20,000 against its base price of Rs 2,000. Shawls and turbans,which ranged from Rs 100 to Rs 500 had the maximum buyers.

Approximately,40,000 people visited the exhibition. We are satisfied with the response. While around 130 articles have been sold for around Rs 10 lakh,we have another 400 bids. So,the amount will go up, said Prakash Dobaria,sub-divisional magistrate of Rajkot city and in-charge of the show.

The organisers did not maintain a formal register for visitors.

The proceeds from the auction would go towards the Chief Ministers fund for the education of the girl child.

Modi in Delhi today to attend party meetings

Ahmedabad: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi will be travelling to Delhi on Thursday to attend meetings organised by the BJP,a release from the state party unit said. Meanwhile,Deputy Leader of BJP in Lok Sabha Gopinath Munde on Wednesday met Modi at his office and spent two hours with him,sources said.

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