Loaned gifts back in toshakhana of Rastrapati Bhawan
2 Dec, 2013Reply to an application filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act has revealed that the gifts received by the President which were loaned for display have been brought back to the ‘tosha khana’ of Rashtrapati Bhavan. The former President, Pratibha Patil had loaned 155 items gifted to her to the Vidya Bharati Shaikshanik Mandal (VBSM), Amravati, while A.P.J. Abdul Kalam had loaned 36 items to Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for display at the Brahmos Centre for display.
The former President, Pratibha Patil had loaned 155 items gifted to her to the Vidya Bharati Shaikshanik Mandal (VBSM), Amravati, while A.P.J. Abdul Kalam had loaned 36 items to Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for display at the Brahmos Centre for display.
Under a memorandum of understanding signed between the Rashtrapati Bhavan and the VBSM, certain items including crystals from Belgium, a bronze rhinoceros from China, candles from 10 Downing Street, and a stone box from the U.S. President were loaned to VBSM. The “loan” of gifts was widely reported in media and following an uproar, Rashtrapati Bhavan has decided to display them in its museum itself.
The reply to the application filed by RTI activist Subhash Agarwal does not specify the cost of transport of the 155 gifts.
For earlier posts on the matter, please refer to the link:-