NYC Mayor Mamdani said he would ‘encourage’ King Charles to return Indian Koh-i-Noor diamond [94pXQUV3eDM]
New York City’s Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he would “encourage” British monarch King Charles III to return the Koh-i-Noor Diamond, which was taken by the British from India in 1849. The 105-carat diamond, one of the largest in the world, is part of the Crown Jewels, meaning it is under the trusteeship of the reigning British monarch. It is currently set in the crown of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. It was originally found in the Golconda mines in India, but was taken as a punitive measure by the British after they took control of the Punjab region in 1849 and coerced the then-leader, a 10-year-old-boy, to sign away the kingdom and several riches in a treaty. Mamdani’s comments reflect a longstanding diplomatic dispute over the diamond, with India having repeatedly requested it be returned. In 2016, a Pakistani barrister successfully filed a petition in a Pakistani court for the diamond to be returned to Lahore. Support stories that matter. Join this channel to get access to perks: Catch previous episodes of MEE LIVE, our biweekly news programme exploring the stories shaping our world through breaking coverage, expert analysis, and hard-hitting interviews. Originally airing Tuesdays & Thursdays at 12pm ET | 5pm BST Got a story tip or question? Reach us at [email protected] Subscribe to our channel: Subscribe to MEE Telegram channel to stay up to date: Middle East Eye Website: Follow us on TikTok: Follow us on Instagram: Like us on Facebook: Follow us on Twitter: