Indian consulate condemns Gandhi statue vandalism in SFU

SFU/Shutterstock | City of Burnaby

Vandals seem to have beheaded a sculpture of Mahatma Gandhi at the SFU Burnaby campus.

The bronze statue, which was donated to the university by the East Indian community of BC, has since prompted the consulate general of India to urge Canadian authorities to “investigate the matter urgently and bring the perpetrators to justice swiftly.”

“We strongly condemn the heinous crime of vandalizing the statute of harbinger of peace Mahatma Gandhiji,” a tweet from the consulate reads.

Siddhant Mishra QT By 𑆩𑆳𑆬𑆴𑆤𑆵 Sarah L Gates RT By Stop Hindu Hate Advocacy Network (SHHAN): Breaking : India in Vancouver condemns, urges Canadian authorities to investigate the matter of vandalising statue of harbinger of peace Mahatma Gandhi at @SFU burnaby campus URGENTLY !! @MEAIndia @cgivancouve
by u/OkLie1285 in IndianCelebSFW

Burnaby RCMP said it received a report of the vandalism on Monday around 8:30 pm after someone noticed the sculpture’s head was removed.

However it’s not yet known when the vandalism took place.

The vandalism follows recent tensions between India’s government and its Sikh community which has trickled into Canada following an aggressive government-led chase for a 30-year-old Sikh activist Amritpal Singh.

You might also like:

No one has taken responsibility for the vandalism but RCMP say the significantly damaged statue “appears to be a deliberate act of vandalism.”

We strongly condemn heinous crime of vandalizing the statute of harbinger of peace Mahatma Gandhiji, @SFU Burnaby campus. The Canadian authorities are urged to investigate the matter urgently and bring the perpetrators to justice swiftly.@MEAIndia @GAC_Corporate @MayorofBurnaby

— India in Vancouver (@cgivancouver) March 28, 2023

“Burnaby RCMP investigators are in the early stages of the investigation, with officers canvassing for witnesses and video,” a release from police reads.

Police suggests a power tool was likely used to vandalize the sculpture.

Burnaby RCMP is aware that Gandhi statues have been damaged in other areas of Canada in the past. Police are looking at all aspects of this incident, including the possible motivation, Cpl. Mike Kalanj said.

Daily Hive has asked SFU and the City of Burnaby what steps they are taking following the recent incident on the Burnaby campus.

There is no word on whether the statue will be replaced.

Anyone with information about the vandalism is asked to contact Burnaby RCMP at 604-646-9999. The file number is 23-10216.