India Demands Australia "Hold Culprits Accountable" Over Stolen Gandhi Statue in Melbourne
Ministry of external affairs calls for immediate recovery of bronze statue taken from Rowville community centre
A spokesperson for India's Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement demanding "immediate action to recover the missing statue," elevating what began as a local theft into a diplomatic matter between the two nations.
The statue was stolen from the Australian Indian Community Centre in Rowville last month. Victoria Police are investigating the theft and have warned scrap metal dealers to be wary of anyone attempting to sell the bronze figure depicting the Indian independence leader.
The diplomatic intervention reflects the deep cultural and symbolic significance of Gandhi in Indian national identity. The theft of his likeness from a community centre serving the Indian diaspora has been interpreted as an affront both to the community and to India's heritage.
The incident comes at a time when Australia-India relations have been broadly positive, underpinned by trade agreements and strategic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. Both governments will be keen to resolve the matter quickly to avoid it becoming a wider irritant.
Analysis
Why This Matters
A statue theft that might otherwise be treated as a routine property crime has become a diplomatic incident. India's formal demand for accountability signals the cultural sensitivity around symbols of national heroes, particularly Gandhi.
Background
Australia is home to one of the world's largest Indian diasporas, with the community growing rapidly through skilled migration. Cultural symbols and community centres serve as important anchors for diaspora identity.
Key Perspectives
India views the theft as an attack on shared cultural heritage. Australian police are treating it as a criminal matter. The scrap metal warning suggests investigators believe the statue may be melted down for its material value.
What to Watch
Whether Victoria Police can recover the statue before it is potentially destroyed, and whether the diplomatic pressure accelerates the investigation.