The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, has condemned the collapse of a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Maharashtra and called for a silent protest to demand action against the culprits. This incident has highlighted potential cracks within the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) coalition in the state, coming just days before the General Assembly elections.
NCP president Sunil Tatkare expressed deep sorrow and shock over the incident, stating, “It is very painful and heart-wrenching that the statue of the great Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj erected at the Rajkot fort in Malvan has crashed. It is shocking that this statue fell in just eight months (after it was inaugurated).” He accused the authorities of an unforgivable mistake.
Tatkare announced that the NCP will hold a statewide rally on Thursday, August 29, from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm. The silent demonstration will take place in front of the statue of the Maratha warrior, protesting against the collapse and demanding preventative measures to avoid similar incidents in the future. “We will demand that strict action be taken against whoever is guilty in this case,” Tatkare said.
The 35-foot tall statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, installed at Rajkot Fort in Sindhudurg district by the Indian Navy, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year. Following the collapse on Monday, August 27, opposition parties, including the NCP, have blamed the Eknath Shinde-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-Shiv Sena government for negligence and a lack of attention to the quality of work.
NCP (SP) State President and former Minister Jayant Patil stated, “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.” He further criticized the BJP-led government, alleging that they prioritized conducting events with PM Modi’s presence over ensuring the quality of construction.
This incident has sparked controversy and raised concerns about the accountability of the ruling coalition in Maharashtra. With the state elections approaching, the NCP’s demand for action and their highlighting of potential negligence within the government may further intensify political tensions in the state.
