Click to play videoNew Delhi: Business tycoon Vijay Mallya, who acquired Mahatma Gandhi's memorabilia at an auction in New York with a $1.8-million bid, on Friday said he had not been contacted by Indian officials on this but would gift the items to the government.
"I am looking forward to seeing what I bought - and hope it will be sooner rather than later," Mallya told CNN-IBN from France, hours after his representative clinched the deal at the auction by Antiquorum Auctioneers in New York.
He said he had "not been approached" by anyone in the Indian government, but added: "I will always have the emotional satisfaction of having bought them (the Mahatma’s possessions) and gifted them to the Government of India."
“I did not do this to generate any publicity or goodwill for me,” he said. Mallya said he wished the Mahatma’s articles are displayed in a museum either in Bangalore or Mysore.
Mallya’s statement contradicts Union Culture Minister Ambika Soni, who claimed on Friday that the government used the businessman’s “services” to acquire the personal possessions of Mahatma Gandhi.
Soni claimed the government could not have bid for Gandhi’s possessions because of a court stay order in India. Instead, the items were "procured through the services of an Indian, Vijay Mallya".
Mallya’s representative was “in touch with us” (the Indian government) through the Indian consulate in New York. Soni claimed the items were acquired in “close cooperation” between her department and the External Affairs Ministry.
(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest)
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
More on IBNLive Right Now
TOP NEWS
MOST SHARED
PHOTOGALLERY
