The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday strongly reacted to the demolition of a Lord Vishnu statue along the Thailand-Cambodia border, stating that such “disrespectful acts” deeply hurt religious sentiments across the world. The statue was allegedly destroyed by the Thai military on Monday following more than two weeks of renewed clashes between the two Southeast Asian nations.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal expressed concern over the incident, emphasising that Hindu and Buddhist deities in the region are not only symbols of faith but also part of a shared civilisational heritage.
“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 Thai-Cambodia border dispute. Hindu and Buddhist deities are deeply revered and worshipped by people across the region as part of our shared civilizational heritage,” Jaiswal said.
India also urged both countries to restore peace and avoid actions that escalate tension or disrespect cultural 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, resume peace and avoid any further loss of lives, and damage to property and heritage,” the MEA added.
The Vishnu statue, reportedly built in 2014, was brought down using a bulldozer by Thai military engineers. Videos of the demolition quickly went viral on social media, sparking widespread outrage among religious communities and heritage supporters. Thailand has yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
Earlier, Cambodia strongly condemned the act, asserting that the statue stood inside Cambodian territory. “The statue was inside our territory in the An Ses area,” said Kim Chanpanha, spokesperson from Cambodia’s border province of Preah Vihear, speaking to AFP.
Border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia first erupted in July this year. Although a ceasefire was brokered the same month, reportedly with mediation involving US President Donald Trump, tensions flared again this month, leading to renewed conflict in the disputed region.
India reiterated its call for calm, stressing the importance of respecting cultural and religious heritage while prioritising peace and diplomacy.