India strongly condemns Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela's statue vandalized in Seychelles

The Indian Mission has strongly condemned the vandalization of the statues of Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela located in the 'Peace Park' of Victoria, the capital of Seychelles. The Indian mission issued a statement on January 6 saying, "The High Commission of India condemns the vandalism of the statues of Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela located at the 'Peace Park' in Victoria."

Gandhi's statue was with Nelson Mandela and James Matcham According to the Indian mission, the statue of Mahatma Gandhi was unveiled in Victoria's 'Peace Park' on June 2022. The statue of Mahatma Gandhi was erected next to Sir James Matcham, the founding president of Seychelles, and Nelson Mandela, the first anti-apartheid revolutionary and president of South Africa.

In its statement, the Indian mission said, "Mahatma Gandhi's message of humanity and peaceful struggle against colonialism is commendable and has inspired the world for non-violent struggle." The statue is a symbol of the historic and cordial relations between India and Seychelles."

In the past too, incidents of vandalism of Mahatma Gandhi's statue have come to the fore from many parts of the world. In the month of August last year, six people together destroyed a handcrafted statue of Mahatma Gandhi in New York City. Earlier in February 2022, Gandhi's statue was vandalized in Union Square near Manhattan. Both these acts were strongly condemned by the Indian Mission. After which a lot of disappointment had arisen in the Indian-American community.