New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has stated that he would privately urge King Charles to return the Koh-i-Noor diamond to India. The comments were made during the King and Queen's visit to New York City, where they attended a ceremony commemorating the victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
Disputed Diamond
The Koh-i-Noor diamond, one of the largest in the world, was mined in India and forcibly acquired by the British East India Company in 1849 during colonial rule. Since India's independence in 1947, the country has repeatedly requested the diamond's return, with the most recent official request made in 2016.
Royal Visit
Mayor Mamdani, who met King Charles at the 9/11 memorial event, indicated that he would raise the issue in private conversations with the monarch. Buckingham Palace has declined to comment on the mayor's remarks regarding the disputed jewel. The Koh-i-Noor remains a symbol of colonial exploitation for many Indians, and its return has been a long-standing demand.
This development comes as the British royal family continues to face scrutiny over its historical ties to colonialism and the acquisition of artifacts from former colonies.
