Gifts worth 21 lakhs for PM on foreign tours

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh received gifts worth over Rs 21 lakh during his foreign visits in the last five years while UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi got presents valued at Rs 7.15 lakh.

The Prime Minister received a total of 176 gifts worth over Rs 21.01 lakh during his visits abroad between 2005 and 2010 whereas Gandhi's just five gifts totalled over Rs seven
lakh.

As per rules, the gifts received by members of delegation having cost of above Rs 5,000 have to be deposited in the government "toshakhana" - where gifts and emblems of honour received by dignitaries are kept.

During the period, 270 gifts have been deposited in the 'toshakhana' by members of different delegations which undertook offshore visits, the reply provided by Ministry of External Affairs to Hissar-based RTI activist Ramesh Verma shows.

Prime Minister's wife Gurusharan Kaur also deposited gifts worth Rs 6,600.

A framed replica of a royal emblem made of fine gold worth Rs 10 lakh, a small time piece with figure of a horse in gold and silver worth Rs two lakh, LCD TV worth Rs 1.25 lakh, a large carpet worth Rs 60,000 were some of the valuable gifts received by the Prime Minister during his foreign visits during the period.

During her visits abroad, the UPA chairperson received a jewellery set worth Rs five lakh, another set containing a white gold necklace fitted with precious sapphire and iolite stones worth Rs 1.9 lakh and a painting worth Rs 10,000 among others.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee deposited 20 gifts worth over Rs 1.16 lakh, former Home Minister Shivraj Patil deposited 56 gifts valued at Rs 3.12 lakh, Petroleum Minister Murli Deora submitted seven gifts worth Rs 3.64 lakh and Home Minister P Chidambaram deposited gifts having value of Rs 15,000.

Former Home Minister Shivraj Patil received 'Saris' among other gifts. Some of the gifts are prohibited under different laws. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh received a Zebra skin while Patil received a red box of ivory. Both items are prohibited under the wild life laws.

Gifts received by Deora included a bracelet worth Rs 1.2 lakh, a ladies watch worth Rs one lakh, platinum ring with ruby work worth Rs 23,500, a platinum ear ring fitted with red rubies worth Rs 78,000 among others.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee received a carpet, a porcelain vase, a ceramic horse, an ink pot and pen among others.