City of Davis condemns vandalisation of Gandhi statue in California
“We understand that our community reflects a diversity of views and values, but we expect that everyone will extend respect to each other and to shared spaces,” the City of Davis said.
FollowNew Delhi: After India registered a strong protest against the vandalisation of Mahatma Gandhi’s statue in California, the City of Davis administration said it doesn’t support any actions that include destruction of property.
“We understand that our community reflects a diversity of views and values, but we expect that everyone will extend respect to each other and to shared spaces,” it said in a statement.
“We are committed to creating a City that is inclusive and lives up to our principles. We work diligently to ensure the physical and psychological safety of every resident,” it said.
“We sympathize with those who are grieving the destruction of the statue and promise a thorough investigation and full accountability for those who committed this crime,” the administration said.
“... we reiterate our belief that the solution to solving such differences is never in violent acts but through compromise and dialogue. It is our sincere desire that our community move forward with peaceful and positive discourse and reconciliation,” the City of Davis said.
The 6-foot-tall, 650-pound bronze statue, which was gifted to the City of Davis by the Government of India in 2016, was vandalised on January 28.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the US Department of State has conveyed that the act of vandalism is unacceptable and expressed hope that the perpetrators will be brought to justice as quickly as possible.
“The government of India strongly condemns this malicious and despicable act against a universally respected icon of peace and justice," the MEA said in a statement.
The Indian Embassy in Washington has taken up the matter with the US Department of State for a thorough investigation and appropriate action against those responsible for it.
