'Inalienable cultural heritage': India seeks to halt auction of Buddhist relics by Sotheby's Hong Kong

India has intervened to stop the auction of a portion of the sacred Buddhist relics at Sotheby's Hong Kong, which were excavated in the northern parts of the country in 1898. New Delhi has demanded their repatriation. The Ministry of Culture on Monday said it has issued a "legal notice to Sotheby's Hong Kong", seeking "immediate cessation of the auction" scheduled for Wednesday (May 7). The Ministry added that Sotheby responded to the legal notice with the "assurance" that "full attention" is being given to the matter.

India