NEW DELHI, Feb 23: The Indian government is drawing up plans to prevent several of Mahatma Gandhi’s personal possessions being sold at auction in New York, an official said on Monday.

A special government committee has met twice to work out how to bring the items back to India, a ministry of culture spokesmen said.

“A committee has been formed to look into this, and it has submitted recommendations to the government,” said the official, who declined to be named.

The March 4-5 auction has triggered a campaign for the return of the belongings, which include Gandhi’s trademark round glasses, sandals, and pocket watch as well as some dishes.

In 2007 the culture ministry successfully negotiated with British auction house Christie’s to secure a letter written by Gandhi shortly before his death.

But Gandhi’s great-grandson Tushar Gandhi, who has launched a public appeal for funds to buy the items for the Mahatma Gandhi Foundation in Mumbai, was pessimistic about the government’s efforts.

“Government committees generally don’t work fast or efficiently. They just keep meeting,” he said.

Tushar said so far he had raised Rs125,000 ($2,500) from donors, including one anonymous pledge of Rs100,000.

He said the auction house, Antiquorum Auctioneers, told him the items were likely to attract bids well above their estimate of between $20,000 and $30,000.

Tushar has said selling the items would be a “grave insult” to India’s independence leader, while members of parliament have also called for them to be secured for public display in India.

The pieces are owned by a German collector who obtained them from Gandhi’s grandniece, Ghita.Tushar said they had been given to the current owner for display in museums and that Ghita was “morally not right” to provide a letter of authenticity for the sale.—AFP