Mahatma Gandhi’s statue vandalised in US; India strongly condemns the malicious act

 

In a shocking incident, the 6-ft tall statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the US state of California was vandalised by some miscreants and ripped from the base. The ‘malicious and unacceptable act’ has been condemned strongly by the MEA and Indian-Americans across the country, who have demanded action in the matter, however, a pro-khalistani group has praised the vandalism openly. The Ministry of External Affairs while conveying unacceptance over the act, expressed hope ‘that perpetrators will be brought to justice’ since the matter has been taken up with the US Dept. of State for a thorough investigation.

  

 

As per the local Davis Enterprise daily, “the 6-ft tall, 650-pound (294 kg) bronze statue of Gandhi, in the Central Park of the City of Davis in Northern California, appeared to have been sawed off at the ankles and half its face was severed and missing”. The police said that the vandalised statue of Mahatma Gandhi was found by a park employee in the early hours of the morning of January 27.

 

Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs have strongly condemned “the malicious and despicable act against a universally accepted icon of peace and justice”. It said that on 28 Jan 2021, the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Central Park in the City of Davis, California was vandalised by unknown persons.

 

 

After the Embassy of India in Washington D.C. took up the matter with the U.S. Department of State for a thorough investigation into the incident and appropriate action against those responsible for this despicable act, “the US Department of State has conveyed that this act of vandalism is unacceptable and expressed the hope that perpetrators will be brought to justice as quickly as possible”, the MEA issued a statement in the matter on Saturday.

 

It added, the Mayor of Davis deeply regretted the incident and informed that they have initiated an investigation. Local Indian community organisations have condemned the act of vandalism.

 

“Seeing as it’s a cultural icon to a portion of the people in Davis, we are taking it very seriously,” Deputy Chief Paul Doroshov of the Davis Police Department was quoted as saying by the daily.

 

 

 

 

Much to everyone's shock and outrage, the vandalism was praised on Twitter by a pro-Khalistan group in California, who shared photos of the destroyed statue, and others who stated, ‘today is a good day’.

 

However, the Indian-Americans are outrageous over the incident and have expressed deep anguish and shock. The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) has demanded that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigate the incident as a hate crime.

 

The statue of Gandhi, which was donated by the Indian government to the city of Davis, was installed by the city council four years ago amidst protests from anti-Gandhi and anti-India organisations.