Amritsar: British Prime Minister David Cameron on Thursday refused to return a giant diamond his country had taken away in the colonial era and was set in a royal crown.

Speaking on the third and final day of India’s visit Cameron ruled out handing back the 105-carat Kohinoor diamond, now on display in the Tower of London.

One of the world’s largest diamonds, some Indians – including Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson – have demanded its return to atone for Britain’s colonial past.

“I don’t think that’s the right approach,” Cameron told reporters on Wednesday after becoming the first serving British prime minister to voice regret over Jallianwala Bagh massacre in 1919 that killed hundreds of Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus.

“It is the same question with the Elgin Marbles,” he said, referring to the classical Greek marble sculptures that Athens has long demanded be given back.

“The right answer is for the British Museum and other cultural institutions to do exactly what they do, which is to link up with other institutions around the world to make sure that the things which we have and look after so well are properly shared with people around the world.

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