Kanpur: Noted Gandhian writer Giriraj Kishore, who had offered to return his Padma Shri award over auction of soil stained in Gandhiji's blood on Friday wrote a letter to UPA chief Sonia Gandhi seeking steps to stop the proposed sale of Mahatma's letter in London on July 10.
Noting that the letters were of great historical importance, Kishore also asked the government to enact a law for checking all such auctions of Indian valuables on foreign land.
"Gandhi had written these letters to his German friend Kallenbach, who had made a significant contribution in South African freedom struggle. Noted historian Ramchandra Guha had also screened these letters in Germany," Kishore said.
Kishore, who came across the development through media reports, demanded setting up of a body that would purchase any belonging of noted personalities in case they were going under the hammer.
"Gandhiji's belongings and his communication could be found in various places across the globe. Hence, such a body is need of the hour," he said.
The writer had written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on April 5 urging the government to intervene and had subsequently written letters to the President over the issue.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, June 16, 2012, 00:15