California: India strongly condemned the vandalisation of Mahatma Gandhi's statue in California calling it a malicious and despicable act against a universally respected icon of peace and justice. The government also asked the US government for a thorough investigation into the incident.
The government said in a statement that on January 28 the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at the Central Park in the city of Davis, California, was vandalised by unknown persons. The statue was a gift to Davis by the Indian government in 2016.
The 6-ft tall, 294 kg bronze statue of Gandhi appeared to have been sawed off at the ankles and half its face was severed and missing, local Davis Enterprise daily reported. “The government of India strongly condemns this malicious and despicable act against a universally respected icon of peace and justice,” said the Indian ministry of external affairs.
The ministry further said that the Indian embassy in the US had also taken up the matter with the department of state for a thorough investigation into the incident and appropriate action against those responsible for this despicable act. “The Consulate General of India in San Francisco has separately taken up the matter with the City of Davis and local law enforcement authorities, which have initiated the investigations,” it added.
The US department of state has conveyed that this act of vandalism is unacceptable and expressed hope that perpetrators will be brought to justice as quickly as possible.“The mayor of Davis deeply regretted the incident and informed that they have initiated an investigation. Local Indian community organisations have also condemned the act of vandalism,” said the foreign ministry.
