RS members urge govt to bring back Kohinoor back from Britain

Rajya Sabha members urged the government on Tuesday to bring back the Kohinoor diamond bach to India from Britain.

Rajya Sabha members urged the government on Tuesday to bring back the Kohinoor diamond bach to India from Britain.

Once the largest known diamond in the world, the Kohinoor diamond is set in a crown last worn by the late mother of Queen Elizabeth II during her coronation. (AFP File Photo)

House deputy chairman PJ Kurien said everyone would be “happy” if the gem is brought back.

The issue was raised by Biju Janata Dal (BJD) member Bhupinder Singh during the zero hour. He said, “Maharaja Ranjeet Singh, in his last will, said he wanted to give it (Kohinoor) to Lord Jagannath in Puri.”

He said the will was fished out when India was observing 50 years of its Independence.

The BJD member urged leader of House, Arun Jaitley, to take action in the matter, adding, “We would urge the leader of the House to show some action... What you said in the Supreme Court is not right. Duleep Singh was taken to Dalhousie and converted, and they said he offered it (Kohinoor)... It is wrong.”

Several members from the ruling and opposition benches backed the BJD member’s zero hour mention.

The 105-carat Kohinoor – the name translates to ‘Mountain of Light’ – is believed to have been mined in present-day Andhra Pradesh in the 13th century and passed several hands before ending up with the British during their occupation of India.