Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president and Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal on Wednesday asked the Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to file a caveat in the Supreme Court so that it could be heard before the court passes a judgement on the public interest litigation (PIl) demanding the return of Kohinoor to India.
SGPC would represent the Sikh community in the PIl demanding that the diamond, which is presently a party of the crown jewels of the Queen of England, be returned to the religious body, said the Deputy Chief Minister’s Media Advisor Jangveer Singh.
He said that the assertion was being made on the basis that Maharaja Ranjit Singh was the head of a Khalsa Raj. “In the absence of any such system now, the SGPC is the representative of the Sikh community to which the diamond rightfully belongs,” he said.
Meanwhile, in another decision on the issue, a SAD deputation will meet the Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to make a representation on behalf of the Sikh community to highlight the wrong version given to the court earlier.
It welcomed the fact that the External Affairs ministry will now file a response on this issue in six weeks. SAD delegation is likely to impress upon Swaraj that Maharaja Dalip Singh, the last Sikh sovereign ruler of Punjab, was robbed of the Kohinoor, he added.
The Media Advisor said that the Akali Dal feels that this aspect has not been appropriately put before the Apex Court. “The party will present the facts of the case to the External Affairs Ministry detailing how the Maharaja was forced to present the Kohinoor to Queen Victoria after being Christianised and that he had no option in the matter,” he added.
It, therefore, cannot be regarded has being given as compensation or as a gift in any manner, according to the party, said he.
SAD is confident that the Centre will rethink its stand on the issue as there was no doubt that Maharaja Ranjit Singh was the absolute owner of the Kohinoor and that after its death it was taken away by the British in a deceitful manner. It feels that this wrong can only be righted by the return of the diamond to the Sikh community.