PM Modi explains why Bapuji's statue stands tall outside UK parliament

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who arrived in the United Kingdom on Thursday on a three-day visit to Britain, paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at his statue at the Parliament Square.

“Paying homage to the Mahatma. PM @narendramodi and PM @David_Cameron at the Gandhi statue,” the Prime Minister’s Office India tweeted after Modi laid floral tributes at the statue. 

The nine-foot tall bronze statue was created by British sculptor Philip Jackson and was unveiled by Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on March 14 this year. 

Based on a photograph of Gandhi standing outside the offices of then British prime minister Ramsay MacDonald in 1931, the statue was dedicated as a commemoration of the centenary of Gandhi’s return from South Africa to lead the Indian independence movement. 

While addressing Britain’s Parliament, the PM was asked ‘Why is it that there’s a statue of Gandhi outside the UK parliament?”

Modi’s response was, “The British are wise enough to understand his greatness. Indians are generous enough to share him. We are both fortunate enough to have been touched by his life and mission and we are both smart enough to use the strengths of our connected histories to power the future of our relationship.” 

Image: Prime Minister Narendra Modi paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi outside UK parliament. Photograph: Ministry of External Affairs/Facebook