A 35-foot statue of the Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, which was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Sindhudurg district, Maharashtra, last December, collapsed on Monday. The incident took place around 1 pm at Rajkot Fort in Malvan, as reported by PTI, citing an official.
Following the collapse, opposition parties sharply criticized the Eknath Shinde-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-Shiv Sena government, accusing it of neglecting the quality of work involved in constructing the statue. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi alleged corruption in the tender process for the statue’s construction. She questioned the government’s choice of contractor, saying, “The statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj erected at Sindhudurg collapsed today. Modiji had inaugurated the structure in December last year. Who was the contractor? Is it correct that the work was given to a Thane-based contractor? What action will be taken against the contractor? How much ‘khoke’ did the contractor pass on to the ‘khoke Sarkar’?”
In response to the incident, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde expressed his regret over the collapse, attributing it to strong winds. “We have our emotions attached to him (Shivaji Maharaj). We worship him like God. The statue collapsed due to the high wind. It’s unfortunate. Our minister has gone there and is inspecting the situation,” he stated.
The statue had been unveiled by Prime Minister Modi on December 4, 2023, to commemorate Navy Day. NCP (SP) state president and former minister Jayant Patil blamed the state government for the statue’s collapse, stating, “The state government is responsible for the collapse, as it did not take proper care. The government paid little attention to the quality of work. It only focused on conducting an event where Prime Minister Narendra Modi was invited to unveil the statue. This Maharashtra government only issues new tenders, accepts commissions, and gives contracts accordingly.”
Senior officials from the police and district administration have visited the site to assess the situation and examine the damage caused by the collapse.
Maharashtra minister Deepak Kesarkar commented on the incident, saying, “I don’t have all the details about the incident. However, it’s important to note that PWD Minister Ravindra Chavan, also the guardian minister of Sindhudurg district, has said a thorough investigation will be conducted in the matter.” He further assured the public that the government is committed to erecting a new statue at the same location. “This statue, unveiled by PM Modi, pays tribute to Shivaji Maharaj’s visionary efforts in building a sea fort. We will take all necessary steps to address this matter promptly and effectively,” he added.
The collapse of the statue has sparked a political controversy in Maharashtra, with opposition leaders demanding accountability and transparency regarding the construction process and the allocation of contracts.
