India looking to force ‘colonial reckoning’ on Britain with series of demands
India is set to launch a campaign against Britain in an attempt to reclaim thousands of artefacts currently housed in UK museums as well as one of the crown jewels.
The Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has targeted the Koh-i-Noor diamond which is held in trust for the King and a number of museum collection pieces.
The Koh-i-noor was seized by the East India Company after its victory in the Second Anglo-Sikh War of 1849.
The diamond was not used in the Coronation earlier this month, with Buckingham Palace opting to use Queen Mary’s Crown instead.
Ministerial and diplomatic staff will be set up to ensure the smooth transition of the artefacts, one source told The Telegraph the move was a “reckoning with the past”.
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They claimed the artefacts, which were taken during the days of empire, were stolen due to the nature of how they were removed from the country, calling it a state of “colonial coercion”.
Modi has made it a priority in his premiership and it is believed the issue will move into diplomatic talks between the two countries and impact trade discussions.
The secretary for the Indian ministry of culture, Govind Mohan said: “It is of huge importance to the government.
“The thrust of this effort to repatriate India’s artefacts comes from the personal commitment of prime minister Narendra Modi, who has made it a major priority.”
Elsewhere he insisted the return of the items would contribute to a key part of the country’s policy-making.
A number of museums have already been contacted by the Archaeological Survey of India, including the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford over a bronze idol which was taken from a temple in the south of India.
The growing issue will likely cause Rishi Sunak issues diplomatically as he attempts to strengthen relationships globally.
Modi had recently labelled Sunak a “living bridge” between the two countries.
A statement released by Downing Street after a call between the two men said they had “reflected on the close friendship between the two countries, and agreed great progress was being made on the 2030 UK-India Roadmap”.
