Ottawa: A 900-year-old piece of sculpture from Khajuraho temple, which had somehow reached Canada, was returned by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to PM Narendra Modi in Ottawa yesterday.
The sculpture, known as 'Parrot Lady', was handed over by Canandian PM Harper to PM Modi in accordance with the 1970 UNESCO Convention.
The handing over took place in the Canadian Parliament Library which PM Modi visited after his talks with PM Harper.
External Affairs Ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin tweeted:
The stone sculpture, meant to be in UNESCO-protected Khajuraho, depicts a dancer with a parrot on her back.
The valuable antique piece surfaced in Canada in 2011 when it was found in possession of a person who did not have proper documents and it was seized, according to reports.
The Canadian authorities then contacted their Indian counterparts, following which discussions started on returning it.