(a) whether the Ministry has taken efforts to bring back the priceless Indian antiquities including Kohinoor diamond which were taken by colonial masters and invaders;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether any antiquities have been retrieved from other countries; and
(d) if so, the details thereof till 2017?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]
(a) to (d) Mindful of the sentiments that have been expressed by the Indian public and the Parliament, the Ministry of External Affairs after getting the relevant information from the Archaeological Survey of India under the Ministry of Culture has time and again raised the matter about the return of the Kohinoor and other antiquities with the relevant authorities abroad.
Government is continuing to explore ways and means for obtaining a satisfactory resolution of the matter.
According to the Archaeological Survey of India, list of antiquities received between 1976 and 2017 is given at Annexure A.