Lagatar24 Desk
Sindhudurg: A towering 35-foot statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, which was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December last year, collapsed on Monday in Sindhudurg district, Maharashtra. The statue, located at Rajkot Fort in Malvan, came crashing down at around 1 PM on August 26, according to officials.
The statue was initially revealed during the Navy Day celebrations on December 4, 2023, with PM Modi participating in the event at the historic Rajkot Fort. The collapse, however, has sparked a political firestorm, with opposition parties lashing out at the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government, accusing it of neglecting the quality of the statue’s construction.
Officials suggest that the collapse may have been caused by heavy rains and strong winds that have swept through the region over the past two days. Despite this, the exact cause is yet to be determined, and senior officials from the police and district administration have arrived at the site to assess the damage.
Criticism from opposition leaders was swift. Jayant Patil, the NCP (SP) state president and former minister, held the state government accountable for the incident, accusing it of prioritizing the event over the quality of the work. “The government focused only on the event where Prime Minister Narendra Modi was invited to unveil the statue. This Maharashtra government is more interested in issuing new tenders, accepting commissions, and awarding contracts accordingly,” Patil said.
Adding to the criticism, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Vaibhav Naik demanded a thorough investigation into the construction and installation process, expressing concerns that the state government might try to evade responsibility. “Those responsible for the statue’s construction must be thoroughly probed,” Naik asserted.
Responding to the incident, Maharashtra Minister Deepak Kesarkar acknowledged the seriousness of the situation but noted that he did not have all the details yet. He emphasized that PWD Minister Ravindra Chavan, who is also the guardian minister of Sindhudurg district, has promised a comprehensive investigation.
Kesarkar also reassured the public that the government is committed to erecting a new statue in the same location. “This statue, unveiled by PM Modi, was a tribute to Shivaji Maharaj’s visionary efforts in building a sea fort. We will take all necessary steps to address this matter promptly and effectively,” he stated.
