Can't return Kohinoor to India: British PM

New Delhi, Jul 29: British Prime Minister David Cameron turned down the return of the Kohinoor diamond to India.

David Cameron told that if such demands were agreed, it would lead to empty rooms in British Museums.

"I know there is also a great argument about the original provenance of the Kohinoor diamond. I"m afraid this will disappoint viewers, but it"s going to have to stay put," said Cameron.

The issue about returning of Kohinoor diamond to India was raised by British MP of Indian origin Keith Vaz on Saturday, Jul 24 before Cameron began his two-day visit to India.

Keith Vaz told that British PM's visit was the right time to return Kohinoor diamond to India where it was mined.

Kohinoor is a 105 carat diamond that was once the largest known diamond in the world. It was originated at Kollur, Guntur district in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India.

It has belonged to various Hindu, Mughal, Persian, Afghan, Sikh and British rulers who fought bitterly over it at various points in history and seized it as a spoil of war time and again.

It was finally seized by the East India Company and became part of the British Crown Jewels when Queen Victoria was proclaimed Empress of India in 1877.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), with the support of UNESCO and some other countries, have an ongoing campaign to regain artifacts of Indian origin from their former colonial rulers.

OneIndia News