Italy : Pro-Khalistani vandalise bust of Mahatma Gandhi ahead of PM Modi visit ; India condemns shocking act
A few hours after the inauguration, during the days ahead of the G7 summit, pro-Khalistani elements vandalised the bust
Mahatma Gandhi Statue Vandalised in Italy : In a disturbing incident ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Italy for the G7 Summit, a bust of Mahatma Gandhi was vandalised by pro-Khalistani activists.
The act of desecration has sparked outrage and condemnation from India, with officials calling it a shocking and unacceptable attack on a global symbol of peace and non-violence.
According to news reports, the bust of Mahatma Gandhi, Father of the Nation, was reportedly vandalised a few hours after the inauguration. Notably, the vandalisation of the statue comes ahead of the G7 summit, which will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi
A few hours after the inauguration, during the days ahead of the G7 summit, pro-Khalistani elements vandalised the bust. Graffiti includes reference to Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Authorities say area was cleaned up in "record time"
Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Wednesday that it has already raised the issue of vandalisation of a statue of Mahatma Gandhi by Khalistani separatists in Italy, just ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the country for the G7 Summit.
On a statue of Mahatma Gandhi vandalised in Italy's Milan allegedly by pro-Khalistani elements, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra says, "...We have seen the reports of that and we have taken it up with the Italian authorities. We understand that a suitable rectification has already taken place..."
Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to leave for Italy on Thursday) to participate in the 50th G7 Summit, scheduled on June 13 and 14. Italian PM Giorgia Meloni has invited PM Modi to the G7 Outreach Summit in Puglia on June 14.
This will mark Modi's first overseas trip after assuming office in his third consecutive term as Prime Minister.
During the Summit, PM Modi is also expected to hold a bilateral meeting with Giorgia Meloni.
In the meeting, the two Prime Ministers are expected to review the entire gamut of bilateral ties and give directions for next steps
Italy is the Chair of G7 this year and is hosting the Summit of the informal grouping of seven of the world's advanced economies which also includes Canada, France, Germany Japan the United Kingdom, and the United States, as well as the European Union.
This will be India's eleventh participation in the G7 summit and PM Modi's fifth consecutive participation in the G7 summit.