New Delhi, Aug 18 (IANS) The Indian government Wednesday said it was not contemplating to bring the fabled Kohinoor diamond from Britain and the Peacock Throne from Iran.
There have been several demands in the recent past for the return of the diamond, which was mined in the Deccan and is now part of the British crown jewels. It came up again when British Prime Minister David Cameron visited India last month.
Putting an end to the speculation, Minister of State for Planning and Parliamentary Affairs V. Narayanasamy said India is not contemplating to bring both the items back home.
‘These items are not covered even under the Unesco convention, 1972, dealing with the restitution of cultural property,’ he said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
British MP of Indian origin Keith Vaz raised the matter just before Cameron began his two-day visit to India.
Kohinoor is a 105-carat diamond that was once the largest known diamond in the world and originated in India. It was seized by East India Company and became part of the British Crown jewels when Queen Victoria was proclaimed Empress of India in 1877.
It has now been kept at the Tower of London, a historic castle on the north bank of the Thames river in the British capital.
During his visit, Cameron had turned down suggestions for returning the diamond to India, saying if such demands were agreed, it would lead to empty rooms in British museums.
The Peacock Throne, built in solid gold for Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the early 17th century, was reportedly one of the most splendorous thrones ever made. It was ascended by silver steps and stood on golden feet set with jewels; and it was backed by representations of two open peacocks’ tails and inset with diamonds, rubies, and other precious stones.
The throne was seized along with other plunder when the Iranian conqueror Nader Shah captured Delhi in 1739.
