HONG KONG (AP) — Sotheby's stopped selling some jewelry connected to Buddha after the Indian government said they did not agree and wanted the sale to stop.

The auction house said that the jewels for sale were found in North India in 1898. They were found with old bones of the Buddha. They were from about 240 to 200 BC.

But the government of India said on Facebook that it told Sotheby's to stop the sale right away. India said the sale was against Indian laws and international rules.

In a letter to Sotheby’s Hong Kong on Monday, which they put on Facebook, they said the sale included important Buddhist items. They said these items are a very important part of the religious and cultural history of India and all Buddhists around the world. The group asked for the items to be given back to the Indian government. They also asked the auction house and Chris Peppé to say sorry in public.

Peppé is the great-grandson of British William Peppé. William Peppé found the relics by digging.

The government said that if the company did not follow their rules, they would go to court. They would also tell people that the company was helping to continue unfairness from the past by selling old religious things.

Sotheby's said on Wednesday that they would have the event later. This is because the Indian government had some questions, and the people who were selling things agreed.

The sentence means the groups can talk together, and we will tell you any news when it is right.

Some pages on the Sotheby's website about the sale were not there on Wednesday.

The Indian government said on Facebook on Wednesday that they were happy because the sale was stopped after they helped.