Gandhi statue desecrated during George Floyd protests, US envoy to India apologises

The US Ambassador to India, Kenneth Juster, on Thursday apologised for the desecration of Mahatma Gandhi's statue in Washington DC.

The statue was vandalised by unidentified rioters during the ongoing violent protests against the custodial killing of an African-American citizen, George Floyd, in Minneapolis on May 25.

Reports said the statue of India's founding father Gandhi, who is globally known as an apostle of peace, was defaced with graffiti and spray paint outside the Indian embassy in Washington.

Mahatma Gandhi's statue outside the Indian Embassy in Washington DC desecrated by unruly elements of #BlackLivesMatter protesters. Sources tell ANI that United States Park Police have launched an investigation, more details awaited. pic.twitter.com/jxRpIhqd2W

- ANI (@ANI) June 4, 2020

So sorry to see the desecration of the Gandhi statue in Wash, DC. Please accept our sincere apologies. Appalled as well by the horrific death of George Floyd & the awful violence & vandalism. We stand against prejudice & discrimination of any type. We will recover & be better.

- Ken Juster (@USAmbIndia) June 4, 2020

The US envoy to India in New Delhi apologized for the vandalization of the statue. "So sorry to see the desecration of the Gandhi statue in Wash, DC. Please accept our sincere apologies. Appalled as well by the horrific death of George Floyd and the awful violence & vandalism. We stand against prejudice & discrimination of any type. We will recover & be better," Juster tweeted.