Engineer named in FIR denies involvement in Shivaji statue collapse
Chetan Patil, a structural engineer implicated in the First Information Report (FIR) following the collapse of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's statue at Fort Rajkot, has denied responsibility for the incident. He clarified that his role was limited to designing the platform on which the statue stood. The 35-foot monument, unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi just nine months ago, collapsed on August 26, sparking widespread outrage and political controversy.
Engineer clarifies role in statue project
In an interview with Marathi news channel ABP Majha, Patil emphasized that he was not the structural consultant for the statue project. He stated, "A Thane-based company did the statue-related work. I was just asked to work on the platform on which the statue was being erected." His involvement in this project was solely related to submitting a design for this platform to the Indian Navy via Maharashtra's Public Works Department (PWD).
Political fallout and investigations
The statue's collapse has led to political fallout, with opposition parties demanding Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's resignation ahead of the assembly polls. They argue that this incident is a disrespect to the legacy of the 17th-century Maratha emperor. The Maharashtra PWD has alleged substandard construction work on the statue, while Deputy CM Ajit Pawar publicly apologized for its collapse.
Probes and restoration efforts underway
The Indian Navy has initiated an investigation into the incident and pledged to restore the statue. The Congress party has questioned PM Modi about the rushed and allegedly low-quality construction of this significant historical figure's statue. Meanwhile, Shinde attributed the collapse to damage from strong winds, promising a thorough investigation into why it fell. He also assured that the Maharashtra government would reinstall Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's statue at its original location.
Public Works Minister visits site, Navy pledges support
Public Works Minister Ravindra Chavan visited the site immediately after the incident and will be leading an investigation into the causes of the statue's collapse, as per Shinde's orders. The Indian Navy has also pledged their assistance to state forces in restoring the statue and aiding with the probe into its fall.
Political reactions and future plans
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP Supriya Sule demanded that the contractor responsible for erecting this statue be blacklisted by all departments. Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut criticized PM Modi for the hurried inauguration of the statue. Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis revealed that while the Navy had built the original statue, a larger one would now be installed at the same site by Maharashtra government.
