New York Mayor Advocates for Return of Kohinoor Diamond to India

USA / New Delhi: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has advocated for the return of the historic Kohinoor diamond to India. During King Charles III’s visit to the United States, Mamdani stated that if he were granted the opportunity for a private audience, he would appeal to the British monarch to hand over this priceless diamond to India. Mamdani’s statement came during a press conference held prior to an event organized in memory of the victims of the September 11 attacks. Notably, the Kohinoor is a renowned diamond; India has long demanded its repatriation.

The Kohinoor—which is currently part of the British Crown Jewels and housed in the Tower of London—is a celebrated diamond weighing 105.6 carats. India has long sought the return of this gem. According to historians, the East India Company acquired the diamond from Maharaja Duleep Singh in 1849 following its annexation of Punjab, and subsequently presented it as a gift to Queen Victoria in 1850. Even after India gained independence from Britain in 1947, the dispute regarding the Kohinoor has persisted between the two nations.