'Bow my head and apologize': Modi after Shivaji statue collapse
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has issued an apology after the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, which he unveiled nine months ago in Sindhudurg, Maharashtra, collapsed last week. "Today I bow my head and apologize to my god Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj," he said while addressing a rally in Palghar on Friday. "Those who consider...Shivaji Maharaj as their deity and have been deeply hurt, I bow my head and apologize to them...For us, nothing is bigger than our deity," he added.
Watch PM Modi's address here
Maharashtra CM promises to reinstall fallen statue
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde described the incident as "unfortunate" and pledged to reinstall the statue. He clarified that strong winds of around 45km/h caused the statue, erected by the Navy, to fall and get damaged. Meanwhile, the state government has set up a technical committee to investigate the reasons behind the collapse. This panel will include engineers, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) experts, and Navy officials.
Opposition criticizes government over statue collapse
The statue's fall has sparked a political controversy in Maharashtra, with the opposition criticizing the state government for alleged negligence in quality control. Shive Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray expressed disbelief that even a revered figure's monument could fall victim to alleged corruption within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s ranks. "It is unimaginable that the statue of our deity, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj would also be a subject of the BJP's corruption," Thackeray stated.
Legal action and restoration efforts underway
Sindhudurg guardian minister Ravindra Chavan revealed that a case has been filed against Jaydeep Apte, the proprietor of the firm M/s Artistry, and structural consultant Chetan Patil, both involved in statue work. On Friday, Patil, a resident of Kolhapur, was taken into custody in a joint operation by Kolhapur crime branch and Malvan police. The 35-foot statue of the 17th-century Maratha warrior king at Rajkot fort in Sindhudurg's Malvan collapsed on August 26.
