The destruction of a statue of a Hindu deity by the Thai military has angered many people from the Hindu-majority India. Among them is former MP Vijayasai Reddy, who could not remain calm.
A widely shared video clip showed heavy machinery destroying the statue, reportedly in the An Ses area in Preah Vihear province, on December 22. The statue was reportedly built more than a decade ago.
“Destroying a Hindu deity’s statue under the pretext of a border dispute is unacceptable. Whether placed by Cambodia or not, attacking faith and heritage only exposes intolerance. Both Thailand and Cambodia are Buddhist nations, yet history records repeated persecution of Hindu temples and attempts to erase them,” said Vijayasai, in a December 23 social media post.
“Violence against sacred symbols cannot be whitewashed with slogans. No religion proves its ‘peace’ by destroying another’s faith,” he added.
