The United Kingdom does not believe that there is any legal ground for them to return the Kohinoor diamond to India, according to the country's new minister of Asia and Pacific affairs. Alok Sharma's remarks come amid speculation that the Narendra Modi government is planning to launch a campaign to get the diamond back, reported The Indian Express.

“It is the UK government’s [view] that there are no legal grounds for restitution,” Sharma said, during his first visit to India. He also cited the United Nations convention on restitution of cultural property to support his statement. The rule, adopted in 1970, is considered the guiding principle regarding such disputes.

On April 18, the National Democratic Alliance government had said that India cannot stake claim on the prized diamond as according to the Ministry of Culture, the British did not steal it or forcibly take it from the country. The statement was made to the Supreme Court, which had asked the Centre to clarify its stand on the PIL filed by All India Human Rights & Social Justice Front.

However, sources told ANI that the government is planning to file a new affidavit in the apex court reiterating the country's resolve to bring back the diamond.