Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison had unveiled a life-size statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the Australian Indian Community Centre, Melbourne on November 12, 2021. The government of India had gifted the statue to the nation. But just hours after the unveiling, some miscreants attempted to decapitate the statue, as reported by police officials of Victoria State. Attacks on the statue were made by an unidentified vandal group with a tool between 5:30 PM, November 12 to 5:30 PM, November 14.
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Australian Ministers Strongly Condemned The Shameful Act
Morrison has strongly condemned the act and said that the country would not tolerate such shameful attacks. According to a report by The Week, Morrison said, “It is disgraceful and extremely disappointing to see this level of disrespect…Whoever is responsible for this has shown great disrespect to the Australian Indian community and should be ashamed.” Jason Wood, Australia’s Assistant Minister for Customs, Community Safety and Multicultural Affairs too condemned the misdeed. Taking to Facebook, he wrote, “Defacing statues is never ok! I’m extremely disappointed to hear about the brazen vandalism of Mahatma Gandhi’s statue which I joined PM Scott Morrison & Alan Tudge MP in unveiling on Friday! This is a disgraceful act, particularly given it is against such an important figure who taught Non-violence and great tolerance is needed in the world.”
“Australia celebrates everyone’s culture and traditions. There is no place for anyone trying to bully or intimidate our communities. Additionally, this statue was donated by the Indian Government as a special gift to the Australian Indian Community Centre”, added Wood.
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This Year, Australian Indian Community Centre Is Celebrating 75th Year Of Indian Independence
India’s ‘Father of the Nation’, Mahatma Gandhi is honoured in several countries around the world. This year, the Australian Indian Community Centre is celebrating the 75th year of Indian Independence. The unveiling of the statue was a part of it. Also, Mahatma Gandhi’s Ice Sculpture Has Been Installed By A Canadian Hotel To Mark The 75th Independence Day Of India. Having said that, this is not the first group attack on the statue of Mahatma Gandhi. Earlier, Mahatma Gandhi Statue Was Disrespected In The USA During A Protest For Farmers Of India.