Government expressed confidence that it would be able to acquire at the least cost and by utilising honourable option the precious articles of Mahatma Gandhi which are up for auction in the US on Thursday. India has established contact with the US-based owner of Gandhi's memorabilia James Otis as well as the auction house Antiquorum Auctioneers as part of efforts to acquire the five items,either after stopping the bidding process or by participating in it through some NRIs. Otis has expressed readiness to negotiate and donate the items to India if it offers something very generous to its poorest people. "We will do whatever it takes to bring back these items to India at the least cost and using honourable option," a senior official of the Culture Ministry said. Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma said the Indian embassy in Washington and Consulate General in New York have been asked to do everything that is required through the bidding process or otherwise to acquire the Father of the Nation's personal assets for the country.
