New Delhi, May 16 -- The Netherlands handed back 11 century Chola dynasty copper plates to India on Saturday in an event attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

PM Modi arrived in the Netherlands on Friday after his quick tour of the UAE. This is the second leg of his five-nation tour. The prime minister has described the occasion as "a joyous moment for every Indian".

India has been pursuing the return of these Anaimangalam Copper Plates, which are known as the Leiden Plates in the Netherlands, since 2012.

"A joyous moment for every Indian! Chola Copper Plates dating back to the 11th Century will be repatriated to India from the Netherlands," Modi said in a social media post after attending the restitution ceremony.

Modi described ...