A 35-foot statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, erected at Rajkot Fort in Sindhudurg, Maharashtra, collapsed on Monday afternoon, triggering a political storm. The incident, attributed to “exceptional weather conditions”, has led to the formation of a joint technical committee headed by the Indian Navy to investigate the damage. The committee will include representatives from the Maharashtra government and technical experts.
The statue, unveiled on December 4th, 2023, as part of the Navy Day celebrations, was a tribute to the legacy of the Maratha Navy and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, their contributions to maritime defense, and their historical connection to the modern Indian Navy. The project, conceptualised and steered by the Indian Navy, was funded by the Maharashtra government. The Indian Navy has reaffirmed its commitment to assisting in the repair, restoration, and reinstatement of the statue at the earliest.
However, the incident quickly escalated into a political controversy, with the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) targeting the ruling Mahayuti government and demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The opposition raised concerns about the statue’s construction, questioning its quality and durability. They have also highlighted the haste with which the statue was unveiled, alleging that the timing was strategically chosen to benefit the ruling party ahead of the upcoming assembly elections.
Adding fuel to the fire, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar offered an apology to the state’s residents for the collapse, pledging to hold those responsible accountable. The incident, he emphasized, occurred just before the assembly elections, a period of heightened political sensitivity.
Opposition leaders, including Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray, have questioned the BJP-led Mahayuti government’s handling of the project. Congress general secretary in charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, shared a video of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru inaugurating a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Pratapgad in 1957, highlighting that the statue, erected over 67 years ago, remains standing strong and undamaged.
Congress general secretary, in-charge organisation, K C Venugopal, criticized the ruling party, alleging that the statue was hastily constructed on short notice to coincide with the Prime Minister’s visit and the upcoming elections. He accused the government of prioritizing political gains over the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Venugopal questioned the project’s exorbitant cost of Rs. 236 crore, calling for an apology from Prime Minister Modi for prioritizing personal ambitions over the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
The Sindhudurg police have filed a case against contractor Jaydeep Apte and structural consultant Chetan Patil, who were involved in the statue project. Meanwhile, NCP (SP) leaders and workers in Thane, part of the MVA coalition, staged a protest and consecrated a horse-riding statue of Shivaji Maharaj with milk.
The collapse of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue has not only sparked a political row in Maharashtra but has also raised concerns about the quality of infrastructure projects in the state and the potential for political manipulation in the name of historical figures and national pride.
