Maharashtra's PM Modi-Inaugurated Shivaji Maharaj Statue Collapses

On Monday, August 26, 2024, a statue of Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, collapsed at Rajkot Fort in Malvan, Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district. The 35-foot statue fell around 1 p.m. Experts will investigate the cause of the collapse, but it’s noted that the area has had heavy rains and strong winds in recent days. The statue was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 4 last year for Navy Day celebrations at the fort.

After the statue collapsed, Opposition leaders quickly criticized both the Narendra Modi-led NDA government and the Maharashtra Mahayuti government. They accused them of corruption related to the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. They highlighted that while Shivaji Maharaj's forts have stood strong for centuries, the statue unveiled by Prime Minister Modi, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has now disappeared.

“It is disgraceful that this government has allegedly siphoned off funds even in the construction of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s statue,” said Leader of Opposition Vijay Wadettiwar, taking a dig at the administration. He called the incident a “shameful example” of a government mired in corruption and demanded a thorough investigation.Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and former MP Vinayak Raut expressed his anguish, saying, “Maharaj, please forgive us… We cannot bear to witness your humiliation at the hands of traitors.”

Mr. Wadettiwar called for the statue to be reinstalled at the site with even more grandeur and demanded that the contractor responsible be blacklisted. He also urged that all projects involving this contractor be halted immediately and that those accountable for disrespecting the Maharaja be held responsible and punished.

NCP (SP) working president and Baramati MP Supriya Sule said when the Prime Minister of the country inaugurates a monument or structure, people expect the work to be of high quality. “However, the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj erected at Rajkot Fort in Malvan, collapsed within a year, which is an insult to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. This memorial was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 4, 2023. The collapse of the statue within a year clearly indicates that the work was of inferior quality. This situation represents a betrayal of both the Prime Minister and the public. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a thorough investigation into the reasons behind the substandard work and other related issues,” she said.

Ms. Sule pointed out that the contractor responsible for the statue was from Thane district, which is a stronghold of Mr. Shinde. She said, “It’s now evident how the work was handled. We demand that this individual and his organisation be blacklisted from all future projects,” 

Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati, the 13th direct descendant of Shivaji Maharaj, criticized the statue, saying it was rushed and poorly made.  “We had previously written to the Prime Minister, urging the replacement of this statue, which was poorly crafted, lacking proper form, and installed in a rush. In Maharashtra, it’s unprecedented for a memorial to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to collapse within a year. Given this, how can we even speak of preserving Maharaja’s forts with any credibility?” 

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde called the incident unfortunate, emphasizing that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is a source of pride for everyone. He explained that the statue was designed and installed by the Navy and that the District Collector reported it collapsed due to wind speeds of 45 km per hour.

Mr. Shinde noted that District Guardian Minister Ravindra Chavan had already visited the site as per his instructions and that Navy officials would arrive the next day. He added,  “The Opposition has plenty of time to criticise, but we will reinstall a stronger and more magnificent statue soon,”

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