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Business News/ Politics / Policy/  Why Narendra Modi turned down a gift (horse), diplomatically
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Why Narendra Modi turned down a gift (horse), diplomatically

There's a code of conduct followed by ministers when they get gifts during diplomatic exchanges

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had to leave behind the horse gifted to him by his Mongolian counterpart during his visit earlier this month because the environment ministry has prohibited the exchange of animals as diplomatic gifts. Photo: PTIPremium
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had to leave behind the horse gifted to him by his Mongolian counterpart during his visit earlier this month because the environment ministry has prohibited the exchange of animals as diplomatic gifts. Photo: PTI

New Delhi: It is usually considered bad manners to turn down a gift. And if the gift happens to be a present from a host government, rejecting it could even have an impact on diplomatic relations. But there are exceptions to the rule.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had to leave behind the horse gifted to him by his Mongolian counterpart during his visit earlier this month because, since 2005, the ministry of environment and forests has prohibited the exchange of animals as diplomatic gifts.

Diplomats and political leaders can accept animals as gifts, they cannot bring them to India.

Kanthakha, the horse gifted to Modi, might be the most exotic of the lot but prime ministers and government officials do get their fair share of interesting gifts when travelling abroad.

In fact rule 4.2 of Code of Conduct of Ministers says that a minister can receive gifts when travelling abroad or from foreign dignitaries in India. “Such gifts fall into two categories. The first category will include gifts which are of symbolic nature….The second category of gifts would be those which are not of symbolic nature. If the value is less than 5000/- it can be retained by the minister."

Gifts are evaluated by the toshakhana (treasury) which is maintained by the ministry of external affairs. “If the value of the gift received exceeds 5,000 then the minister or the official has the option to ‘purchase’ the gift from the toshakhana by paying the difference," said a former ministry of external affairs official on condition of anonymity.

Since 2013, the MEA has been putting up a list of the contents of the toshakhana on its website every quarter, detailing the the gift, the name and position of the recipient, the assessed value and the current location. From mementos to books to silver cases to tea seats to gold jewellery and alcohol bottles, the list of gifts makes for interesting reading.

One of the first gifts received by Modi was a pair of silver cufflinks valued at 2,600. It is yet to be collected from the toshakhana. Another gift, a hand crafted silver box with semi precious stones, valued at 20,000, is according to the document on display at the “GHO in PM house."

According to a Right To Infomation petition filed by activist Subhash Agarwal in 2012, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh received gifts worth over 2.9 lakh during his trips in 2011. Interestingly, Singh seemed to have a fondness for tea sets; according to a report in The Indian Express he retained five tea sets.

But not all gifts are as inexpensive as tea sets or books. Singh was gifted a Rolex watch valued at 9 lakh and Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi was presented a gold necklace valued at 7.04 lakh. Both these items are still at the Toshakhana.

The most expensive gift given to Modi in the one year of his tenure has been a pair of gold and diamond cufflinks, valued at 75,000. These too are in the toshakhana. Air chief marshall Arup Raha, the current air force chief, was gifted a Brietling 1884 Blackbird wrist watch valued at 4.1 lakh, which is also in the treasury.

In fact, luxury watches seem to be a favourite gift. Sonia Gandhi was presented with a Franek Muller, Geneve wrist watch in January 2014. Valued at 6 lakh, it is preserved in the toshakhana. Former foreign secretary Sujatha Singh received a Fujilfilm X100S camera valued at 40,000 (which was transferred to the O’dA cell according to the MEA). Other items in the range from wine bottles to carpets and paintings.

“Exchange of gifts is an integral part of diplomacy. The presents represent culture, intent, importance of the relations between the two nations…everything. In case of a personal rapport between the leaders, gifts can have a personal touch," says a former Indian high commissioner on condition of anonymity.

According to The Telegraph, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh gifted US President Barack Obama books; first lady Michelle Obama received a pashmina shawl. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is known to given the Gita as a present to many of the dignitaries he has met including Japanese Emperor Akihito, who visited India in September.

Mumbai resident Austin Fernandes filed an RTI application in 2014 seeking details of the gifts given by Indian Prime Ministers in 2009-2014 to other heads of government and state, but the MEA turned down the request stating that the information could “affect India’s relations with the concerned foreign states."

There is a provision for the toshakhana to auction the items that have not been claimed. The last auction was held in 1983. According to a report in the Hindustan Times, an auction was called off in 1998 after invitations had already been sent out.

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Published: 28 May 2015, 05:54 PM IST
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