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‘Our sincere apologies’ — US ambassador after Gandhi statue vandalised in Washington DC

The statue outside Indian embassy in Washington D.C. was desecrated with spray paint amid the ongoing protests against the killing of George Floyd.

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New Delhi: US Ambassador to India Ken Juster Thursday tweeted an apology after a statue of Mahatma Gandhi outside the Indian embassy in Washington D.C. was vandalised by unidentified persons earlier this week.

The incident took place on the intervening night of 2nd and 3rd June when the statue was spray painted, amid the ongoing protests in America over the death of 46-year-old George Floyd. It has been covered with a cloth since the vandalism.

Juster, in his tweet, said he was “appalled by the awful violence and vandalism”.

His apology came after the Indian embassy officials registered a complaint against the incident.

The bronze statue, designed by a Kolkata-based sculptor Gautam Pal, was installed outside the Indian embassy in Washington D.C. in 2000. It is a gift from Indian Council for Cultural Relations.

During the centenary celebrations of India’s Independence in 1997, it was resolved to set up a National Memorial to Mahatma Gandhi in the US capital. This statue was dedicated during a state visit of then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the presence of US president Bill Clinton.

Celebrities condemn vandalism

The United State Park Police has launched an investigation into the vandalism incident. In Washington D.C., protesters had also burnt a historic church and damaged some places of importance like the National Mall monuments and the Lincoln Memorial.

The vandalism of Gandhi’s statue has been condemned by politicians, academicians and celebrities on social media.

(With inputs from PTI)


Also read: Donald Trump is having a bad week. He must find an Amit Shah of his own


 

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1 COMMENT

  1. If protestors did this, this show’s that they have no idea what they are protesting against. They are definitely not protesting for BLM or Floyd’s murder

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