The bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Tavistock Square in London was recently subjected to a defacement attack, being vandalized with anti-India graffiti and paint. The incident, which occurred just days before the 156th anniversary of Gandhij’s birth on 2 October (Gandhi Jayanti)—a date also observed globally as the International Day of Non-Violence—has drawn strong condemnation, prompting various committees of the Indian Overseas Congress (IOC) in the UK to issue immediate protests.
The Indian Overseas Congress strongly condemned the act of vandalism. Suju K. Daniel, National Committee President and representative of the Kerala Chapter, respectively, demanded that the perpetrators be identified and exemplary punishment be ensured, along with the implementation of security measures to prevent such incidents from recurring.
In a letter to London Mayor Sadiq Khan, Suju K. Daniel urged the immediate initiation of appropriate steps to ensure that the Metropolitan Police conducts a thorough investigation and swiftly brings the culprits to justice. The global leadership of the organization also weighed in, with Sam Pitroda, Chairman of the Global Committee of the Indian Overseas Congress, also strongly condemning the attack.
The Metropolitan Police are treating the incident as “racially aggravated,” though no arrests have been made and it remains unclear who is behind the graffiti, according to reports from the BBC.
Despite the ongoing investigation, steps were swiftly taken to restore the memorial. Cleaning teams from the local Camden Council were dispatched and were on site cleaning the statue on Tuesday, the day of Gandhi Jayan
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