New Delhi: On the vandalism of Gandhiji’s statues in the US, the White House and the New York Government said Mahatma Gandhi has an enduring message of truth and nonviolence.
White House Press Secretary Karen Jean-Pierre told reporters at her daily news conference “we strongly condemned recent cases of vandalism of Mahatma Gandhi statues in the country. Mahatma Gandhi, as you know, has an enduring message of truth and nonviolence, and serves as an inspiration. As you said, the President has spoken about this directly and specifically. Any act of vandalism should be condemned in the strongest terms,”
The New York Police Department is investigating at least one of them as a hate crime.
“The United States is committed to ensuring safety, security … Indian and other foreign counterparts. It is something that we condemned, any acts of violence. You’ve heard us say these many times before from this podium. And again, Mahatma Gandhi is an inspiration. You have heard that directly from the president many times,” the press secretary said.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams along with several city leaders visited the site of the vandalism of the Gandhi statue in New York and said, “Hate has no place in Richmond Hill. Hate has no place in New York City. Hate has no place in our country,”
The event was organized by New York State Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar.
“The Gandhi statue may be gone, but we will continue to spread his message of peace and love throughout the city, the state, and the entire nation,” Rajkumar said. “I stand here today before you with pride as the first Hindu-American ever elected to the New York State Office,” she said.
(Vinayak)