New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has announced that he will ask King Charles, who is currently on an official visit to the United States (US), to return the Koh-i-Noor diamond to India.
In response to a question at a press conference on Wednesday, ahead of the September 11 ceremony, the Democratic Party socialist mayor said that if he were to speak to King Charles privately, “I would probably ask him to return the Kohinoor diamond.”
The diamond was taken under British colonial rule in India, which later gained independence and was divided into India and Pakistan.
The diamond has been a major point of contention between Britain and India; However, Iran and Pakistan have also claimed the stone.
A spokesman for the royal family declined to respond to Mamdani’s statement.
Mamdani is set to welcome King Charles and Queen Camilla to a 9/11 ceremony on Wednesday.
When asked about a specific message he would like to send to the British royal family, the NYC mayor said, “I will be participating in a wreath-laying with other elected officials, including Governor Hochul and Governor Sherrill.”
He continued, “The focus of that wreath-laying is to honor the more than 3,000 New Yorkers who were killed in the horrific terrorist attacks of September 11th. And that’s really what I’m looking to do at that event.”
