UK's Cameron unveils statue of Indian leader Gandhi
LONDON (AP) - The legacy of Mohandas K. Gandhi is being celebrated with a prominent new statue of the Indian independence leader in Parliament Square in central London.
Prime Minister David Cameron and Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday unveiled the statue as sitar music played and Indian flags were waved.
Cameron said Gandhi's nonviolent tactics remain as potent today as when Gandhi used them.
He called Gandhi one of the most towering figures in the history of global politics.
The sculpture created by Philip Jackson was inspired by a 1931 photo of Gandhi at the prime minister's residence at No. 10 Downing St.
British Prime Minister David Cameron makes a speech next to a new statue of Mahatma Gandhi by British sculptor Philip Jackson after it was unveiled in Parliament Square, London, Saturday, March 14, 2015. The bronze sculpture stands 9ft-high (2.75m) and will provide a focal point for commemorations of the 70th anniversary of Gandhi's death in 2018. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
The Associated Press
British Prime Minister David Cameron, right, meets with from left, Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Indian actor Amitabh Bachchan and the grandson of Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi, Shri Gopalkrishna Gandhi, at Downing Street in London, Saturday, March 14, 2015, ahead of the unveiling ceremony of a new statue of Mahatma Gandhi by British sculptor Philip Jackson in Parliament Square (AP Photo/Niklas Halle'n, Pool)
The Associated Press
British Prime Minister David Cameron, centre and Gandhi's grandson Gopalkrishna Gandhi shake hands beneath a new statue of Mahatma Gandhi by British sculptor Philip Jackson, after it was unveiled in Parliament Square, London, Saturday, March 14, 2015. The bronze sculpture stands 9ft-high (2.75m) and will provide a focal point for commemorations of the 70th anniversary of Gandhi's death in 2018. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
The Associated Press
Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan makes a speech during the unveiling ceremony of a new statue of Mahatma Gandhi by British sculptor Philip Jackson in Parliament Square, London, Saturday, March 14, 2015. The bronze sculpture stands 9ft-high (2.75m) and will provide a focal point for commemorations of the 70th anniversary of Gandhi's death in 2018. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
The Associated Press
Gandhi's grandson Gopalkrishna Gandhi makes a speech during the unveiling ceremony of a new statue of Mahatma Gandhi by British sculptor Philip Jackson in Parliament Square, London, Saturday, March 14, 2015. The bronze sculpture stands 9ft-high (2.75m) and will provide a focal point for commemorations of the 70th anniversary of Gandhi's death in 2018. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
The Associated Press
A new statue of Mahatma Gandhi by British sculptor Philip Jackson stands on display after it was unveiled in Parliament Square, London, Saturday, March 14, 2015. The bronze sculpture stands 9ft-high (2.75m) and will provide a focal point for commemorations of the 70th anniversary of Gandhi's death in 2018. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
The Associated Press
A new statue of Mahatma Gandhi by British sculptor Philip Jackson is unveiled by India's Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, third left, watched by, from left, Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan, British Prime Minister David Cameron and Gandhi's grandson Gopalkrishna Gandhi, third right, in Parliament Square, London, Saturday, March 14, 2015. The bronze sculpture stands 9ft-high (2.75m) and will provide a focal point for commemorations of the 70th anniversary of Gandhi's death in 2018. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
The Associated Press
British Prime Minister David Cameron, left, and Gandhi's grandson Gopalkrishna Gandhi walk to shake hands beneath a new statue of Mahatma Gandhi by British sculptor Philip Jackson after it was unveiled in Parliament Square, London, Saturday, March 14, 2015. The bronze sculpture stands 9ft-high (2.75m) and will provide a focal point for commemorations of the 70th anniversary of Gandhi's death in 2018. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
The Associated Press
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