New Delhi: India on Tuesday condemned the vandalisation of Mahatma Gandhi's statue at the Burnaby campus of Simon Fraser University in Canada`s British Columbia province.

India urged the Canadian authorities to start investigating the matter.

"We strongly condemn heinous crime of vandalizing the statute of harbinger of peace Mahatma Gandhiji,@SFUBurnaby campus. The Canadian authorities are urged to investigate the matter urgently and bring the perpetrators to justice swiftly.@MEAIndia @GAC_Corporate@MayorofBurnaby," the Consulate General of India in Vancouver tweeted.

The incident happened at a time when the High Commissioner of Canada was summoned on Saturday to convey India's strong concern about the actions of 'separatist and extremist elements' against Indian diplomatic Mission and Consulates in Canada this week.

"The Government of India sought an explanation on how such elements were allowed, in the presence of police, to breach the security of our diplomatic Mission and Consulates," read a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs.

"The Government of Canada was reminded of its obligations under the Vienna Convention, and asked to arrest and prosecute the individuals who have already been identified as being involved in such acts," read the statement.

"It is expected that the Canadian Government will take all steps which are required to ensure the safety of our diplomats and security of our diplomatic premises so that they are able to fulfil their normal diplomatic functions," the statement said.