NYC Mayor Mamdani Calls on King Charles to Return Koh-i-Noor Diamond During U.S. Visit
Mayor Mamdani's Statement and the Historical Context of the Koh-i-Noor Diamond
Mayor Mamdani's Comments During King Charles' U.S. Visit
By Kanishka Singh
April 29 (Reuters) - New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said on Wednesday he encourages Britain's King Charles to return the Koh-i-Noor Diamond, with his comments coming during the British monarch's ongoing U.S. visit.
"If I were to speak to the king separately from that, I would probably encourage him to return the Koh-i-Noor Diamond," Mamdani, who is Indian American, said when asked at a press conference hours before a ceremony that commemorated victims of the deadly September 11, 2001, attacks.
Interaction Between Mayor Mamdani and King Charles
Later in the day, the king spoke with Mamdani at the ceremony. Buckingham Palace declined to comment. Mamdani's office did not respond to a request to comment on whether Mamdani brought up the issue with the king.
India's Repeated Demands for the Diamond's Return
India has previously repeatedly demanded that Britain return the 105-carat diamond.
The Diamond's Transfer to Britain
Britain's then colonial governor-general of India arranged for the huge diamond to be presented to Queen Victoria in 1850 after the East India Company had annexed the region of Punjab in 1849 and taken the diamond from a deposed Indian leader.
King Charles' Activities During the U.S. Visit
Charles on Wednesday commemorated victims of the September 11, 2001, attack on New York City, laying a floral bouquet at the memorial where the World Trade Center's twin towers once stood.
The Koh-i-Noor Diamond as a Symbol of Colonialism
India's Independence and Colonial Legacy
India received independence from British rule in 1947. The British colonization of India and widespread atrocities committed against Indians during that period remain sensitive issues in the country.
Significance of the Diamond in Indian History
India has previously said the diamond was a "valued piece of art with strong roots in our nation's history." The diamond's possession by the British is seen by many Indians as a symbol of colonial atrocities during British rule.
Previous Owners of the Koh-i-Noor Diamond
The diamond has been previously owned by India's Mughal emperors, shahs of Iran, emirs of Afghanistan, and Sikh maharajas, according to the Historic Royal Palaces charity.
(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Aurora Ellis)
