India condemns demolition, desecration by Thailand of Hindu Deity Statue in Cambodia.

India condemns demolition, desecration by Thailand of Hindu Deity Statue in Cambodia.

#National

The Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India has stated that the demolition by Thai aggression, of a Hindu deity statue, located in An Ses area, Preah Vihear province, hurts the sentiments of Hindu believers around the world, and should not take place.

A statement from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, issued yesterday, read:

!In response to media queries regarding the demolition of Hindu deity statue, Official Spokesperson Shri Randhir Jaiswal said:

We have seen reports on the demolition of a statue of a Hindu religious deity, built in recent times, and located in an area affected by the ongoing Thailand-Cambodia border dispute.

Hindu and Buddhist deities are deeply revered and worshipped by people across the region, as part of our shared civilizational heritage.

Notwithstanding territorial claims, such disrespectful acts hurt the sentiments of followers around the world, and should not take place.

We once again urge the two sides to return to dialogue and diplomacy, to resume peace and avoid any further loss of lives, and damage to property and heritage.”

“The statue was inside our territory in the An Ses area,” added Kim Chanpanha, a Cambodian government spokesman in the border province of Preah Vihear.

He stated that the demolition of the Vishnu statue, built in 2014, occurred on Monday about 100 metres (328 feet) from the border with Thailand.