Rishi Sunak Faces New Koh-i-Noor Demands
October 26, 22
(IDEX Online) - The appointment of Rishi Sunak as Britain's new prime has again provoked calls for the Koh-i-Noor diamond to be returned to India.
On Monday Mr Sunak, 42, (pictured) became the country's first leader of Indian origin, fueling hopes that he may respond more favorably to calls for him to intervene.
The iconic 105.6-ct Type IIa D-color gem, center-piece of the late Queen Elizabeth II's crown, was presented to Britain by the Maharaja of Lahore in 1847 after the Anglo-Sikh war.
India, and a number of other countries - Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan - have all laid claim to the stone.
The death of Queen Elizabeth last month, and the prospect of Queen Consort Camilla wearing it at the forthcoming coronation, next May, have already reignited the long-running Koh-i-Noor debate.
The hashtag Kohinoor is trending on Twitter as thousands of Indian demand its return.
"Now just return the Kohinoor and not all but some will be forgiven. Historic moment indeed," tweeted award-winning Indian journalist Barkha Dutt.
Mr Sunak, who describes himself as "a proud Hindu", was was born in Britain to parents of Punjabi descent.
His wife Akshata Murthy is the daughter of Indian billionaire Narayana Murthy, chairman of IT giant Infosys.