Hyderabad:

Union tourism minister K. Chiranjeevi is keen to have the famous jewellery of the Nizams displayed in a museum in Hyderabad.

The fabulous jewellery, rated among the world’s priceless collections, was purchased by the Central government in 1995 for Rs 217 crore (the value would be 10 times more now) after long negotiations between the trustees and government.

The jewellery is currently stashed away in the RBI vaults, after it was exhibited a few times, because the Centre is undecided over where to display it.

Sources said Chiranjeevi plans to meet the PM and the CM to push for Hyderabad’s claim to host the collection.

His close aide said Chiranjeevi wanted the jewellery to stay in Hyderabad since it belongs to the erstwhile rulers of the then Hyderabad State. “He will take up the issue with the state and Central government,” the aide said.

source: http://www.DeccanChronicle.com / Home> News> Politics / by C. R. Gowri Shanker / DC, February 14th, 2013