Otis’ remarks degrade Bapu’s name: Tushar Gandhi

As the owner of Mahatma Gandhi’s memorabilia,which were recently auctioned in New York,demanded that the items be returned to him,Tushar Gandhi said such statements “degraded” the name of his great-grandfather.”They are degrading the name of my great-grandfather by making all these dramatic statements,” he said.

James Otis,the US-based owner of the items,said he wanted these back from the auction house as he was unhappy over the “dispute” between liquor baron Vijay Mallya,who bought the articles for USD 1.8 million,and the Indian government over the memorabilia.

Otis said he would negotiate with India on the “two proposals he had submitted — increase in the spending on the poor and fully paid exhibition of Gandhi’s items in 78 countries to spread the apostle of peace’s message of non-violence.”

Tushar Gandhi also questioned Otis’ authority to deliver a moral judgement on India. Meanwhile,Congress spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan said she was not in a position to comment on the remarks of a private individual.