Lagatar24 Desk
Palghar: During his visit to Maharashtra’s Palghar district, Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a heartfelt apology for the collapse of a 35-foot statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Sindhudurg district. The statue, which was meant to honor the Maratha warrior’s legacy, particularly his contributions to maritime defense, collapsed just eight months after its inauguration, causing widespread disappointment.
“Upon my arrival here, my first action was to offer an apology to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj for the unfortunate collapse of his statue. I also extend my apologies to all those who were hurt by this incident,” PM Modi stated during his address in Palghar. He emphasized the deep respect and reverence his government holds for Shivaji Maharaj, saying, “Those who consider Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as their deity and have been deeply hurt, I bow my head and apologize to them. For us, nothing is more important than our cultural values and reverence for our deities.”
The collapse of the statue, which occurred on August 26, has sparked significant controversy, with the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance accusing the ruling government of corruption in the statue’s construction. Critics have pointed out that warnings regarding the rusting nuts and bolts that compromised the statue’s stability were ignored by the Public Works Department (PWD).
In response to the growing outrage, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde expressed his willingness to apologize repeatedly for the incident, saying, “I am ready to put my head on the Maratha warrior’s feet and apologize 100 times.”
During his speech, PM Modi also took the opportunity to criticize the Opposition for what he described as their habit of “insulting and abusing the great son of Mother India,” referring to Veer Savarkar. The prime minister drew a contrast between his government’s values and those of the Opposition, indirectly targeting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is currently facing a criminal defamation case filed by Savarkar’s grandson, Satyaki Savarkar. The case stems from allegations made by Gandhi during an address in London, where he reportedly made false claims about the Hindutva ideologue.
“Our values are different,” PM Modi remarked. “We are not those people who keep abusing and insulting Veer Savarkar. They are not ready to apologize, instead, they are prepared to go to the courts and fight.”
The Prime Minister’s comments underline the ongoing political tension in Maharashtra, where the statue collapse has become a flashpoint for broader discussions on governance, corruption, and respect for historical figures.
