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Leicester has a high Asian population and is predicted to be Britain’s first white-minority city in 12 years.
Samanwaya Parivar, a charity behind the plan for the 12ft bronze statue, is confident its application will be accepted by Leicester City Council.
Jitendra Acharya, the charity’s general secretary, said it would fund the project at a cost of up to 20,000 pounds, and the proposal had overwhelming support from the community.
But locals like Lee Ingram, who set up an initial ‘No Gandhi Statue’ online petition, said they felt there were more deserving local figures.
“Gandhi is a historical figure connected to India. He has no connection to English culture or the English, therefore a statue of him would be more suitably erected in India. This would be yet another symbol of segregation in Leicester and it would be something else for the Asian community. We have local heroes here, Lineker or the writer, Joe Orton,” Ingram said.
However, Acharya maintained that a Gandhi statue would add to the vibrant and multicultural elements of the city since “Gandhi’s philosophies of truth, peace and non-violence had no boundaries.”
Leicester MP Keith Vaz, who has tabled an early-day motion in Parliament to raise awareness of the project, said Gandhi’s “philosophy of brotherhood among those of different religions and ethnicity should be honoured and celebrated. A statue of Gandhi will be an excellent symbol of Leicester’s commitment to diversity.
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RatingGandhi’s Legacy: Statuism!Politicising Religion: Sucking-up to Mohammedans
galets just have a lovely flowerbed sponserd by local garden centres
the peop;e that dont want the statue up are just reacist.. u just dont want there to be someone that is not british to be apart of the community...rasict idiots...grow up and realise that we all here together and should respect each others achievments not hate!
Dont be so stupid you tool, course its not racism. Would you have a statue of Winston Churchill or any other great English historic icon errected in India? I think not!!
I certainly dont think we should have a statue of Gandhi here in leicester, lets have Sir David Attenborough or what about Simon de montfort. what significance would having Gandhi here have anyway.
I'm a British Asian, no matter what Gandhi has achieved, there is no point of having a statue of him in Leicester, where it seems that the majority of people would prefer Linekar anyway. I think it's about time the politicians in this country listened to the people first, before they put their own views ahead.
we have visted ghandhi monument in delhi... wonderful tribute on the ganges of a tremendous man. what did he do for leicester? where are the leicester people?..not immigrants or children of immigrants? where are Leicester people?...Does Dehli want a life size tribute to Gary Linneker?..of course not! no disrespect to either person or community...it just isnt on!
It should be Gary Lineker Gandhi has nothing to do with us... totally oppose it. One liner from a film...whose country is this anyway.
I am fed up with everything being for the asian or muslim communities. Lets not forget we are in ENGLAND!!!!. I'm leicester born and bred and have ancestors tracing back hundreds of years in this town, like many others who live here, so why not give us a say?. But no, us born and bred folk have to sit back and put up with people like Jitendra Acharya and Keith vaz. If this charity has got money to spend, why not sent it to a proverty sticken part of India.
some where i agree... we must learn to live in a multi cultural society... but we absolutely definitely have to protect our heritage.. otherwise we will lose all our lineage...indeed we are... welcome any foreigner with open arms...let them bring their skills and ability to contribute to maintain our heritage...come and embrace our lifestyle and culture...respect it as we are expected to respect yours when visiting or living in your country.. thats all we ask...
Yes Ghandi has done more for the world in humanitarianism and freedom from oppression but as a hero and representative of Leicester I think Gary Linker wins hands down. Let’s face it football cross's all boundaries be it race or religion also he is recognised in Leicester as a ambassador for sport and fairness. I also feel that Leicester City council and the other bodies pushing for this statue, is in its self likely to do more harm for the Asian population’s integration with the English way of life and culture ...Leicester is a city in England lets have an English person after all Asian's class them self’s as English/British don't they??I notice the support is from labour MP's!!
why on earth would we want a gandhi statue in leicester?i mean ok, he did some good things for the world but what did he do for leicester?the Gary Linekar statue would be a great idea, he was one of the best football talents ever in leicester, he never got sent of and he played the game on the right manner. he now does work for numerous charities and he saved leicester city football club from administration. Gary Linekar is a perfect role model for people of all generations and all future generations seens as though football is still the main sport in england.did gandhi even step foot in leicester?furthermore, i feel that if a Gary Linekar statue is not erected then one of Martin Johnson should be erected instead, he is another local hero and perfect rolemodel, he captained our country and city to many successes. Gandhi has done nothing for our community.please realise that im not trying to put down what gandhi did but i just dont feel that he did enough for leicester to be deserving of a statue.Gary Linekar or Martin johnson statues are what is needed in this city.thanks for your time
Why a Gandhi statue there? Linekar is of Brits. Why not a Linekar statue? Don't the Indian community have anything constructive to do there? It's a foreign land, why can't they intermingle if at all they have moved there? The idea sounds so crazy.
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