A Target for Hatred? India demands answers after Gandhi statue in Australia is stolen in second vandalism attempt

According to the MEA, the matter has been raised with Australian authorities. (Photo: Instagram/hfhranz)

India on Tuesday expressed condemnation over the vandalism and removal of a statue of Mahatma Gandhi at the Australian Indian Community Centre in Rowville, a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria.

“We strongly condemn the vandalisation and removal of the Mahatma Gandhi statue located at the Australian Indian Community Centre in Rowville, Melbourne, unidentified people,” Minry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, said in a statement.

Our response to media queries regarding Mahatma Gandhi statue in Australia ⬇️🔗 https://t.co/CsmoYb9B1B pic.twitter.com/uL2jyDWPaw— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) February 3, 2026

According to Australian media reports, the bronze statue, weighing around 420 kgs, was stolen thieves who used an angle grinder to cut it off from the base, leaving just the two feet behind.

The statue, which was gifted India and unveiled in 2021 the then Australian Prime Miner Scott Morrison to mark 75 years of Indian independence, symbolised peace and the strong relationship between the two countries.

CCTV visuals from the spot showed three offenders severing the statue in the early hours before fleeing the scene.

Deeply durbing news 🇮🇳🇦🇺 The bronze statue of #MahatmaGandhi has been stolen from the #Australian #IndianCommunityCentre in #Rowville, #Melbourne. Gifted ICCR (New Delhi) and unveiled on 12 Nov 2021 former PM #ScottMorrison, the statue symbolised #Peace, #Unity . pic.twitter.com/MYaQjaISim— Rajesh Kumar Reddy E V (@rajeshreddyega) February 3, 2026

According to the MEA, the matter has been raised with Australian authorities.

“We have strongly raised the matter with Australian authorities and urged them to take immediate action to recover the missing statue and hold the culprits accountable,” Jaiswal said.Story continues below this ad

Victorian Police said that all angles, including it being a case of theft for scrap metal value, or deliberate of vandalism or intimidation, are being looked into.

Australia Today also reported that this was not the first time the Gandhi statue was targeted. According to the report, in November 2021, less than 24 hours after it was inaugurated, the Gandhi statue was vandalised unidentified miscreants.