India expressed strong objection to the demolition of the idol of Lord Vishnu by the Thai Army on the Cambodian border. The Foreign Ministry called it an insult to religious sentiments and shared heritage. Let us tell you that the border dispute between the two countries has flared up once again.
New Delhi. A few days ago, the Thai Army broke the statue of Lord Vishnu located on the Cambodia-Thailand border with a JCB. The statue was located about 100 meters from the border in Cambodia’s Preah Vihear Border Province and was built in 2014. Last Monday, Thai military personnel demolished it with the help of an excavator. After the video went viral, India reacted strongly on Wednesday, calling it an insulting act.
damage caused to ancient civilization
The Indian Foreign Ministry termed the demolition of the statue as unfortunate and said that this incident has not only hurt religious sentiments but has also harmed the ancient civilization. Responding to media queries on the demolition of the statue, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the incident took place in an area affected by the Thailand-Cambodia border dispute. Despite the territorial claims of both the countries, such derogatory acts hurt the sentiments of believers around the world.
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People give great respect to Hindu-Buddhist gods and goddesses.
Jaiswal further said, “Hindu and Buddhist deities are greatly respected and worshiped by the people throughout the region, which is part of our shared civilizational heritage. We once again urge both sides to restore peace and avoid any loss of life, property and heritage. Both countries need to adopt the path of dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the dispute.”
Cambodia accused Thailand of breaking the statue
At the same time, Cambodian officials have accused Thailand of breaking the idol of Lord Vishnu in the disputed border area. The clashes erupted amid a territorial dispute over the colonial-era demarcation of the 800-kilometre-long border between Cambodia and Thailand. Many ancient temples are located in this disputed area. In July 2025, dozens of people were killed in a 5-day fighting between the two sides, after which America, China and Malaysia called for a ceasefire. The border dispute flared up again in December, killing more than 40 people and displacing more than 1 million.