The collapse of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s statue in Maharashtra has sparked a political storm, with the Congress party leading the charge against the ruling BJP. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera on Sunday slammed Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for spreading fake narratives and demanded action against those responsible for the incident.
Khera argued that the collapse of the statue, a symbol of national pride, had deeply saddened people across the country who draw inspiration from the legendary Maratha king. He accused the BJP government of negligence, stating, “The Mughals did not succeed in breaking Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. But this corrupt government has done what Mughals could never do.”
Khera also took aim at Fadnavis for claiming that former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had portrayed Shivaji Maharaj in a negative light in his book ‘The Discovery of India’. Khera dismissed this as a fabrication, stating that Nehru had clarified the context of his writing after the first edition and had apologized for any unintended offense.
The Congress spokesperson further criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s apology for the incident, deeming it insincere and arrogant. “The country rejects PM’s apology which has been made arrogantly. We want to know what action has been taken against the guilty,” Khera asserted.
The incident has also triggered a political showdown in Maharashtra. Earlier in the day, Fadnavis had criticized the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), a coalition of opposition parties, for protesting the statue collapse. He accused the Congress of disrespecting Shivaji Maharaj, citing historical instances and actions taken by Congress leaders in the past.
MVA leaders, including Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar, condemned the statue collapse, attributing it to corruption and negligence on the part of the BJP government. They also criticized Prime Minister Modi’s apology, calling it insincere and politically motivated.
The statue of the 17th-century Maratha warrior king, unveiled by Prime Minister Modi on December 4, 2023, on Navy Day, collapsed on August 26 at Rajkot fort in Malvan tehsil. The incident has sparked a fierce debate about historical legacy, political accountability, and the responsibility of the government in preserving national symbols.
