New Delhi (NV): India today strongly condemned vandalisation of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in California, United States, calling it a malicious act against the universally respected icon of peace and justice.
A 6ft tall statue of Mahatma Gandhi was vandalised by unidentified miscreants in the Central Park of the City of Davis in California on January 28, according to the media reports.
In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that, the government strongly condemns this malicious and despicable act against a universally respected icon of peace and justice.
“On 28 January 2021, 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 the City of Davis by the Government of India in 2016,” it added.
Condemning the incident, the MEA said that the US Department of State has expressed the hope that perpetrators will be brought to justice as quickly as possible.
It further stated that Indian Embassy in Washington DC has taken up the matter with the US Department of State for a thorough investigation into the incident.
“Mayor of Davis has deeply regretted the incident and informed that they have initiated an investigation. The US Department of State has conveyed that this act of vandalism is unacceptable,” the statement read.
Apart from this, 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, the MEA added.
Last year, in a similar incident Khalistani-supporters had desecrated a Mahatma Gandhi statue in Washington DC in front of the Indian Embassy.
-RJV
