New Delhi - Now that it is considered that the Kohinoor was gifted to the East India Company by Maharajah Duleep Singh, both India and Pa...
New Delhi - Now that it is considered that the Kohinoor was gifted to the East India Company by Maharajah Duleep Singh, both India and Pakistan have decided to return Punjab to the descendants of the Maharajah, to ensure a stronger legal argument is in place to return the diamond.
Neither PM spoke, but the joint statement was as follows,
'The Kohinoor was forcibly gifted by Maharajah Duleep Singh to the British after the Second Anglo-Sikh war. This independent Sikh State, with its centre at Lahore, was annexed by the East India company following the war and the British considered the diamond as war booty. We believe that reinstating an independent Sikh State will provide a legal path for returning the diamond. We will go to any measure to ensure the diamond comes back to this land.'
A few hours later, the Pakistani delegation released a separate statement, unknown to their Indian counterparts. They said 'Technically, the East India Company was succeeded by British India. This British Raj was subsequently succeeded by independent India. Therefore, we believe India is to blame for what their predecessors did. Pakistan, where Lahore is, remains the rightful owner of the diamond'.
We await a counter response from the Indian Government.
