The statue, which stands opposite the Indian Embassy, has been vandalized with graffiti (File)
New Delhi:
The vandalism of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Washington DC is disrespectful and such incidents do not bring people together, said senior American lawmakers.
The statue, which stands in front of the Indian Embassy, was vandalized on Wednesday with graffiti and spray paint, prompting the mission to file a complaint with local law enforcement agencies.
The incident occurred during the week of nationwide protests against the detention of African-American George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25.
The Trump campaign called the incident “very disappointing”, while the American ambassador to India, Ken Juster, apologized, sorry to see the desecration of the Gandhi statue.
The incident was said to have taken place on the night of June 2 and 3, officials said.
“More evidence that violent radicals and mill madmen have diverted legitimate demonstrations to create anarchy or for their own ends,” said Senator Marco Rubio on Thursday.
Vandalizing the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in front of the Indian embassy has nothing to do with the subject of the protests, said the senator.
Protests against the murder of George Floyd in custody have become violent in parts of the United States and prestigious monuments have been damaged. In Washington DC this week, protesters burned down a historic church and damaged monuments such as the Lincoln Memorial.
“It is shameful to see the degradation of the Gandhi statue in DC,” said North Carolina senator Tom Tillis.
“Gandhi has been a pioneer of peaceful protests, demonstrating the great change it can bring. Riots, pillage and vandalism do not bring us together,” he said.
The vandalized statue of Mahatma Gandhi, the design of which was created by Gautam Pal, has been covered and efforts are underway to clean up the site as soon as possible.
“We condemn this disrespectful act and are working with the relevant authorities and the Indian Embassy to rectify the situation,” said a spokesman for the State Department.
“Very disappointing,” tweeted Kimberly Guilfoyle, Donald J Trump advisor to President Inc. and national chair of Trump’s victory finance committees.
Ms. Guilfoyle tweeted with a quote from Gandhi: “Our ability to achieve unity in diversity will be the beauty and the test of our civilization.”
US Ambassador to India Ken Juster said, “Sorry to see the desecration of the Gandhi statue in Wash, DC. Please accept our sincere apologies.”
“Also dismayed at the horrific death of George Floyd and the horrific violence and vandalism. We are against prejudice and discrimination of all kinds. We will recover and be better,” he said in a tweet.
One of the rare statues of a foreign leader on federal territory in Washington DC, the Gandhi statue was dedicated by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, in the presence of former American President Bill Clinton on September 16, 2000 , during his state visit to the United States.
