Mahatma Gandhi statue vandalised amid UK Sikh protests over Bluestar

A statue of Mahatma Gandhi has been vandalised in the UK city of Leicester apparently protesting the 1984 Operation Bluestar military raid on the Golden Temple, the holiest Sikh shrine. Graffiti saying "Never forget 84" and "We want justice #84" has been sprayed on the base of the statue in Leicester's Golden Mile.

Police are investigating after the vandalism was discovered yesterday, the BBC reported. Sikhs from Leicester and around the UK today marched through London to mark the 30th anniversary of the storming of the Golden Temple in Amritsar by the Indian Army to flush out Sikh extremists holed up in the shrine. 

Reacting to the incident, Leicester East MP Keith Vaz said damaging the Gandhi statue was "foolish".

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To think that somebody has felt it necessary, either an individual or a group of people, to vandalise in this foolish and idiotic way, such an important part of the heritage of India, as well as the heritage of Leicester, I think is a disgrace," he said.

Leicestershire Police said the graffiti was due to be removed from the Mahatma Gandhi statue later today, and appealed for anyone with information about how it got there to contact them.