Who does the Koh-e-Noor really belong to?

The ownership battle of the Koh-e-Noor continues as an Indian-born British politician included Pakistan in the running to own the coveted diamond as well. On Monday, Lord Meghnad Desai told reporters that if the diamond should be returned to any country, it should be Pakistan.

Desai explained that the 19th-century Sikh king Ranjit Singh, who had gifted the stone to the British, was actually seated in Lahore, due to which the diamond should go to Pakistan.

“Because his territory was mainly in, what is now Pakistan – in Lahore there is a Ranjit Singh museum – it will go back to wherever the Punjab kingdom had its seat and his seat was in Lahore. So I think if it belongs to anybody, it belongs to Pakistan,” he said.

The ownership of the 105-carat diamond is contested by a total of four countries and India and Pakistan are two of them. India had recently filed a petition again to reclaim the stone but a surprising comment from New Delhi’s solicitor general shocked many. He said that the gem should remain with Britain, since it had been gifted to the then Queen by Ranjit Singh.

Meanwhile, the Modi government is still bent on getting the Koh-e-Noor back, despite the solicitor general’s comments. The government released a statement saying that his views did not represent the government’s.

“The Government of India further reiterates its resolve to make all possible efforts to bring back the Koh-e-noor diamond in an amicable manner,” the ministry of culture said.
The ministry said the stone was a “valued piece of art with strong roots in our nation’s history” and that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was determined to get it back.

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Posted by fatimaarshad on Apr 20 2016. Filed under Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.