NEW DELHI: Sotheby's Hong Kong postponed the auction of Piprahwa Buddhist Relics scheduled for Wednesday following intervention by Indian govt which will now be holding discussions to seek repatriation of the relics to India.
The ministry of culture in a statement said that in collaboration with the Archaeological Survey of India and the ministry of external affairs, it will now engage all stakeholders to advance discussions on the repatriation of the relics.
The culture ministry had on Monday said that it has issued a "legal notice to Sotheby's Hong Kong", seeking "immediate cessation of the auction" scheduled for Wednesday.
On Tuesday, a high-level delegation led by Union culture secretary including the joint secretary (East Asia Division, MEA) and the Consul General of India to Hong Kong, held discussions with Sotheby's representatives. The delegation highlighted that the relics were not ordinary artifacts but held sacred significance for millions of Buddhists worldwide. It was further emphasised that the relics rightfully belong to India, from where they were taken during the colonial era.
"Late Tuesday, Sotheby's Hong Kong informed via email that the auction of the Piprahwa relics was being postponed. The auction page was later removed from Sotheby's website," culture ministry stated.
The ministry of culture in a statement said that in collaboration with the Archaeological Survey of India and the ministry of external affairs, it will now engage all stakeholders to advance discussions on the repatriation of the relics.
The culture ministry had on Monday said that it has issued a "legal notice to Sotheby's Hong Kong", seeking "immediate cessation of the auction" scheduled for Wednesday.
On Tuesday, a high-level delegation led by Union culture secretary including the joint secretary (East Asia Division, MEA) and the Consul General of India to Hong Kong, held discussions with Sotheby's representatives. The delegation highlighted that the relics were not ordinary artifacts but held sacred significance for millions of Buddhists worldwide. It was further emphasised that the relics rightfully belong to India, from where they were taken during the colonial era.
"Late Tuesday, Sotheby's Hong Kong informed via email that the auction of the Piprahwa relics was being postponed. The auction page was later removed from Sotheby's website," culture ministry stated.
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