Modi unveils Gandhi statue, says the Mahatma is still relevant
BRISBANE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday unveiled a statue of Mahatma Gandhi in this Australian city, declaring that the Mahatma’s legacy is relevant even today.
“Mahatma Gandhi is as relevant today as he was in his lifetime,” Modi said at the function where he unveiled the statue.
Addressing a gathering of the Indian diaspora at the venue, following the conclusion of the G20 Summit, the prime minister said: “On October 2 (1869), a per- son was not born in Porbandar, but an era was born.”
The statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Brisbane had been sculpted by Ram Sutar from New Delhi.
The programme organisers said that a bridge would be named after Mahatma Gandhi in Springfield, a satellite city of Brisbane.
Modi arrived at the function venue to a rousing welcome by the Indian diaspora gathered there and was greeted by the Brisbane mayor.
The PM expressed his happiness about attending the function.
“G20 meetings are over. Happy beginning my bilateral visit to Australia with this programme: PM,” the Prime Minister’s Office tweeted ahead of his arrival at the venue.
Modi earlier attended the G20 Summit in Brisbane and held one-to-one meetings with a number of world leaders.
He is scheduled to visit other Australian cities, including capital Canberra, and also address the Australian parliament during his stay in the country.