New Delhi: While the government of India is considering filing a fresh affidavit in Supreme Court to reclaim the Kohinoor diamond, chances of the infamous jewel’s return to India seem bleak, with the UK government reiterating that the claim is based on weak legal grounds.
“It has been the longstanding position of the UK government that we don’t believe there are any legal ground for the restitution of Kohinoor jewels,” Alok Sharma, Minister of Asia and Pacific affairs, said, reflecting Britain’s stand on India’s renewed attempt to bring back the Kohinoor diamond which is currently embedded in the British Monarch’s Crown Jewels.
Sources revealed that the government would submit a new affidavit in the Supreme Court before August 15, which would reiterate India's resolve to bring back the Kohinoor.
It was also revealed that India would attempt to reclaim the 108-carat diamond through diplomatic channels rather than legal means.
Sharma, who is on a visit to India, said that his visit was aimed at improving the India-UK ties based on greater commerce and added that the issues like returning of artefacts may not be high on UK Prime Minister Theresa May’s agenda.
The issue of bringing back the Kohinoor diamond received new impetus last week, with the External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma holding a 45-minute long meeting to devise a new strategy t bring it back.
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.
In April, the government had made a submission in the Supreme Court that the diamond was neither "forcibly taken nor stolen" by the British, but given as a "gift" to the East India Company by the rulers of Punjab. 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 USD 200 million.
Following this, the Culture Minister, earlier in May, told Parliament that Ministry of External Affairs was exploring ways and means for obtaining a satisfactory resolution to this issue with the UK government.
The gem is the subject of a historic ownership dispute and has been claimed by at least four countries, including India. Kohinoor, meaning mountain of light, is a large, colourless diamond that was found in southern India in early 14th century, and is currently in display at Tower of London.
