This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7089171ekyo
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Tavistock Square: Gandhi statue defaced in London days before his birthday | Tavistock Square: Gandhi statue defaced in London days before his birthday |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The defacement came days before days before Gandhi's 156th birth anniversary on 2 October, which is also observed as the International Day of Non-Violence | The defacement came days before days before Gandhi's 156th birth anniversary on 2 October, which is also observed as the International Day of Non-Violence |
| India has demanded "immediate action" against unidentified people who vandalised a statue of independence hero Mahatma Gandhi in London. | India has demanded "immediate action" against unidentified people who vandalised a statue of independence hero Mahatma Gandhi in London. |
| The bronze statue in Tavistock Square, unveiled to the public in 1968, was built as a tribute to Gandhi's years as a law student at University College London. | The bronze statue in Tavistock Square, unveiled to the public in 1968, was built as a tribute to Gandhi's years as a law student at University College London. |
| "This is not just vandalism, but a violent attack on the idea of non-violence," the Indian High Commission said in a post on X, calling it "shameful". | "This is not just vandalism, but a violent attack on the idea of non-violence," the Indian High Commission said in a post on X, calling it "shameful". |
| Officials in London have said that they are looking into reports about the act but haven't identified any person or group responsible for it. | Officials in London have said that they are looking into reports about the act but haven't identified any person or group responsible for it. |
| The High Commission didn't share photos of the exact damage, but several accounts on X and Indian media have shared images showing the word "Terrorists" spray-painted in black on the statue's plinth, along with Gandhi, Modi and Hindustani (Indians). | The High Commission didn't share photos of the exact damage, but several accounts on X and Indian media have shared images showing the word "Terrorists" spray-painted in black on the statue's plinth, along with Gandhi, Modi and Hindustani (Indians). |
| An official from the Camden Council told the BBC that cleaning teams had been sent to the site. The Metropolitan Police said it would issue a statement soon. | |
| The incident comes days before Gandhi's 156th birth anniversary on 2 October, which is also observed as the International Day of Non-Violence | The incident comes days before Gandhi's 156th birth anniversary on 2 October, which is also observed as the International Day of Non-Violence |
| The Indian mission said that its team was also on the site, "coordinating with authorities to restore the statue to its original dignity". | The Indian mission said that its team was also on the site, "coordinating with authorities to restore the statue to its original dignity". |
| The Metropolitan Police and Camden Council authorities told the Press Trust of India news agency that they were looking into the reports of vandalism. | The Metropolitan Police and Camden Council authorities told the Press Trust of India news agency that they were looking into the reports of vandalism. |
| The bronze statue, crafted by Polish sculptor Fredda Brilliant, shows Gandhi wearing robes and sitting cross-legged. An inscription on its plinth reads: Mahatma Gandhi, 1869-1948. | The bronze statue, crafted by Polish sculptor Fredda Brilliant, shows Gandhi wearing robes and sitting cross-legged. An inscription on its plinth reads: Mahatma Gandhi, 1869-1948. |
| Gandhi's birthday is usually commemorated at the statue with floral tributes and renditions of his favourite hymns. | Gandhi's birthday is usually commemorated at the statue with floral tributes and renditions of his favourite hymns. |
| This isn't the first instance of Gandhi's statue being defaced in the UK. In 2014, a statue in Leicester was vandalised with graffiti. In recent years, campaigns have been held in some parts of the UK asking for Gandhi's statue to be removed. | This isn't the first instance of Gandhi's statue being defaced in the UK. In 2014, a statue in Leicester was vandalised with graffiti. In recent years, campaigns have been held in some parts of the UK asking for Gandhi's statue to be removed. |
| Follow BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, X and Facebook. | Follow BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, X and Facebook. |