“Reputation of Mahatma Gandhi should be respected, especially in America’s capital.”
Calling for respect for the reputation of Mahatma Gandhi, the White House has condemned as “appalling” and “terrible” the defacing of Indian freedom leader’s statute in Washington by Khalistani separatists.
“It’s terrible,” White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Tuesday responding to a question about the incident outside the Indian embassy in the US capital on Saturday.
“No statue or memorial should be desecrated and certainly not one like that of Gandhi who really fought for the values that America represents of peace, justice, and freedom.”
“It is appalling that it has happened more than once and we believe the reputation of Mahatma Gandhi should be respected, especially here in America’s capital,” McEnany said.
RELATED: Khalistani separatists deface Gandhi statue in Washington (December 14, 2020)
A State Department spokesperson said it took their “responsibility to provide for the safety and security of foreign missions in the US very seriously” and were discussing incident with the Indian Embassy.
“We take our responsibility to provide for the safety and security of foreign missions in the US very seriously and are discussing the recent incident with the Indian Embassy,” the spokesperson said.
Mahatma Gandhi’s statue was vandalized Saturday as Khalistani separatists hijacked a protest in support of Indian farmers agitating against India’s three new farm laws.
Hundreds of Sikh-American youths from Washington metropolitan area and several other states Saturday took out a car rally to the Indian Embassy in downtown Washington, DC, in support of Indian farmers.
But hijacking the protest, several kirpan flashing youth carrying Khalistani flags and anti-India posters and banners jumped on the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in front of the embassy and pasted a poster over it.
About half-an-hour later, another group of pro-Khalistani supporters raising anti-India and pro-Khalistan slogans, hung a dummy of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a rope around the neck of the statue.
The Indian Embassy condemned the “mischievous act” by hooligans masquerading as protesters.
“The statue of Mahatma Gandhi at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Plaza in front of the Embassy was defaced by Khalistani elements on 12 Dec. 2020,” it stated.
“The Embassy strongly condemns this mischievous act by hooligans masquerading as protesters against the universally respected icon of peace and justice.”
The Embassy said it has lodged a strong protest with the US law enforcement agencies and has also taken up the matter with the State Department for an early investigation and action against the culprits.
It’s the second time in six months that Gandhi’s statue, unveiled by then-prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Sept. 2000, was vandalized by miscreants.
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