Won't accept Modi's 'arrogant' apology for Shivaji statue collapse: Thackeray
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of displaying arrogance while apologizing for the collapse of a statue of Maratha icon Shivaji Maharaj in Maharashtra. PM Modi inaugurated the 35-foot-tall statue in Sindhudurg just eight months ago. It collapsed last week. On Friday, PM Modi issued an apology after the statue collapsed, saying, "Today I bow my head and apologize to my god Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj..For us, nothing is bigger than our deity."
Thackeray alleges corruption behind statue collapse
Addressing a crowd at a protest organized by the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance in Mumbai on Sunday, Thackeray alleged that PM Modi's apology was an attempt to conceal corruption that led to the statue's collapse. "Modi tendered an apology to cover the corruption. Wherever there was the hand of Modi, including the Ram temple, Parliament House and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's statue - every work was proved to be of low quality," Thackeray stated.
Thackeray warns of political consequences, criticizes BJP
Thackeray stated that Maharashtra would not accept PM Modi's apology and would "teach the ruling party a lesson." He also criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which organized a counter-protest against what it perceived as the politicization of the issue. "Whatever is going on in Maharashtra is not politics. Today anti-Shivaji Maharaj people (BJP) are holding protests against the MVA. Let them do it. We want to tell them - get out of India," he added.
NCP(SP) leader Sharad Pawar echoes Thackeray's sentiments
Similary, Nationalist Congress Party (Socialist Party) leader Sharad Pawar stated that the ruling party has insulted Shivaji Maharaj. "In Maharashtra, there are many such statues of Shivaji Maharaj but the one at Malvan fell. There is a general feeling among the people that corruption took place in the project, which is an insult to Shivaji Maharaj," he said.
Opposition leaders protest against statue collapse
Opposition leaders from the MVA held a protest march from Hutatma Chowk to Gateway of India in south Mumbai on Sunday over the statue collapse. According to reports, the public works body, PWD, had warned that rusting nuts and bolts posed a risk to the statue's stability, but these warnings were ignored. The police have arrested the structural consultant and contractor for the project, charging them with attempt to murder, culpable homicide, and acts endangering life and safety of others.
