New Delhi, August 3: Toshkhana, the central government's treasure trove, is full of high-valued foreign gifts thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. According to a report by Daily Pioneer, Sushma Swaraj deposited the maximum number of official presents in toshkhana in the April-June financial quarter. She had deposited 11 gifts in the treasure trove.

PM Modi had deposited a hand-carved samadhi of Lord Buddha worth Rs 3 lakh, a wooden carved platform of Buddha costing Rs 1 lakh, a gold colour decorative serving plate worth Rs 15,000, around covered porcelain box valued at Rs 11,000, a replica of a heritage site in a wooden box worth at Rs 10,000, a blue porcelain bowl of Rs 7,000 and a Maldivian wooden vase and a stone pot in wooden box (each worth Rs 5,000). Sushma Swaraj Bids Goodbye To External Affairs Ministry In Narendra Modi Cabinet, Leaves Twitter Teary-Eyed.

Besides, a traditional chodrom (wooden table) worth Rs 8,000, a decorative letterhead box costing Rs 3,000, a Mont Blanc ballpoint pen and one Malachite stone chaplet have been deposited by PM Modi in toshkhana. As per protocol, all gifts received by the Prime Minister and other ministers and officials from overseas have to be deposited in toshkhana, a treasure house wherein gifts that are received as honour are kept. Sushma Swaraj Cautions Mamata Banerjee For Outburst on PM Narendra Modi, Says 'You Crossed All Limits'.

The foreign gifts deposited by Sushma Swaraj include an expensive silver diamond emerald jewellery set valued at Rs 6.70 crore, a wooden showpiece of Rs 1,000, a gold jewellery set decorated in a frame worth Rs 1.14 lakh, a silk carpet of Rs 1 lakh, a big painted vase worth Rs 2,500, a glass showpiece of an elephant worth Rs 2,000 and a map on a wooden platform with five gold plated camels on its base.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader had also given away a golden mask she had received on her overseas trip to the Archaeological Survey of India. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, who succeeded Swaraj as External Affairs Minister, has so far deposited a golden ship with glass base, a bronze statue of Buddha, a wooden work table and a saree of Rs 10,000 in toshkhana.

National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, too, has deposited a flower vase worth Rs 2,500 in the treasury trove. Ministers and officials are allowed to keep gifts, worth less than Rs 5,000. If it exceeds the limit, recipients can retain the present only after paying extra.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 03, 2019 01:46 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).