Gandhiji in Japan

Gandhiji's statue to be installed in Japanese city

NEW DELHI: A life-size statue of Mahatma Gandhi will be installed in Suginami city of Japan.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit Thursday handed over the bronze statue to the visiting Suginami Mayor Hiroshi Yamada.

“The first ever statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Japan will be installed at Suginami, a suburb of Tokyo,” a statement from the chief minister's office said.

The statue was made available by Gandhi Ashram Reconstruction Trust, which was founded by the late Nirmala Deshpande.

Dikshit presented the statute to Yamada at her residence in the presence of senior diplomats from Japanese Embassy in New Delhi, former union minister Suresh Prabhu and other dignitaries.

“Mahatma Gandhi is still relevant and will remain relevant for all time to come. The statue at Suginami would also inspire people there,” Dikshit said on the occasion.