Locate Nizam's jewellery permanently in AP capital: Naidu

Hyderabad, Jan 25 (UNI) Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to locate the Nizam's jewellery permanently here.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, a copy of which was released to the press here, Mr Naidu pointed out the fabulous jewellery collection on display at Salar Jung Museum was of antique nature and priceless.

''Prior to this exhibition here, the jewellery was bought by the Central Government after a prolonged litigation with the Nizam's trustees who tried to auction the collection after the death of Azam Jah, the eldest son of Mir Osman Ali Khan, the seventh and last Nizam and was kept in the safe vaults of an international bank in Mumbai.

''This treasure trove forms a great and precious inheritance of a glorious heritage of Andhra Pradesh.'' He recalled that when he was the Chief Minister, he had written to the Centre to keep the jewellery for exhibition at Hyderabad permanently and ''the then Prime Minister of India responded to consider my request positively.'' Referring to reports that the jewellery exhibition will close in February this year and it will be taken back to Mumbai, he reiterated his request for locating the jewellery permanently in Hyderabad as the ''state of Andhra Pradesh is the natural and rightful heir of this invaluable collection.'' UNI