Alok Sharma, the UK’s Minister of Asia-Pacific Affairs, said on Wednesday that the British government’s longstanding position was that there is no “legal ground for restitution of the Kohinoor.”
Responding to Sharma’s statement, sources told ANI that the India’s Culture Ministry will try to bring Kohinoor back to India through diplomatic channels – and not through legal means. The sources added that the Indian government will submit a new affidavit in the Supreme Court before 15 August.
The Indian government is planning to approach Britain soon to get back the famed Kohinoor, one of the world’s largest diamonds, currently set in a royal crown on display in the Tower of London.
India Holds ‘High-Level Meeting’ to Get Kohinoor
Last week, India took the decision to approach Britain in a high-level meeting, which was attended by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma and Cabinet Secretary PK Sinha among others, sources said, adding that Britain may be approached on the issue next month.
The meeting also discussed the possibility of signing a treaty with the UK, wherein Britain may be assured that India would not claim any other artefacts that are lying in the museums in that country except the Kohinoor, they said.
The meeting that lasted for over 45 minutes was called following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s direction to take steps to bring back the 108-carat precious gem from the UK, they said.
The meeting deliberated on the stand to be taken by the government before the Supreme Court, as the apex court had asked the government whether it was willing to stake a claim on the Kohinoor.
Britain Unwilling To Return the Diamond
In 2010, the then-UK Prime Minister David Cameron, during a visit to India, had reportedly said that if Britain agrees to return the diamond, “You suddenly find the British Museum empty.”
The sources said the government will further deliberate on how to bring back the diamond. In April, the government had made a submission in the Supreme Court that the Kohinoor was neither “forcibly taken nor stolen” by the British, but given as a “gift” to the East India Company by the rulers of Punjab.
Bringing back of the diamond faces legal and technical hurdles as it dates back to pre-Independence period and, thus, did not fall under the purview of Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972.
However, after receiving flak for its stand, the government had said all efforts would be made to get back the diamond, estimated to cost over $200 million. Kohinoor, meaning ‘mountain of light’, is a large, colourless diamond that was found in southern India in the early 14th century.
(With inputs from PTI)
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