Indian Prime Minister thanks Australia for return of stolen antiques

Australia returned 29 religious and cultural objects to India, including several stolen or illegally exported from India, a gesture grateful by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a summit between the two countries on Monday.

“I would especially like to thank him for the initiative to return Indian antiquities,” Modi said during a virtual meeting to his Australian counterpart, Scott Morrison.

“These include statues and paintings from hundreds of years old that were illegally taken out of the country (...) they can now return to where they belong,” he added.

The objects — which also include photographs and a parchment — date back to the 19th century and were housed in the National Gallery in Australia.

New Delhi has urged Western governments and museums to identify and return objects of India's “stolen inheritance”, achieving the repatriation of hundreds of them.

Experts estimate that thousands of pieces are stolen every year from Indian temples for sale on the international antique market.

Barry O'Farrell, Australia's high commissioner in India, stated that the restitution of the objects symbolized strong diplomatic ties between countries “based on deep bonds of trust and cooperation.”

Monday's summit between Modi and Morrison focused on the strategic partnership between their two countries, which are finalizing a trade agreement. Both are members of the QUAD alliance, along with the United States and Japan.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine was addressed through the words of the Australian president, who pointed out that Russia should be held accountable. But New Delhi, which has historic diplomatic and defense ties with Moscow, has abstained in the UN votes against Russian action in Ukraine, and on Monday did not comment on it either.

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