NEW DELHI: During the last quarter of July to September, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj got 11 sarees as gifts from foreign interlocutors. And the minister chose to keep all the sarees. These were among the 74 gifts registered with the MEA’s ‘Toshahkhana’ for the quarter.
As per a decision of the Central Information Commission, the MEA releases the quarterly list of gifts received from foreign sources, but without the name of the giver. In total, 74 items were deposited with Toshakhana, including the Vice-President. Swaraj deposited 44 gifts, including a jewellery box worth Rs 30,000.
The glaring absence was Modi who apparently did not get any gifts or at least did not deposit them during the three-month period. During the first two months after taking over, Modi had deposited only three items.