New Delhi: A 35-foot statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year, collapsed on Monday at Rajkot Fort in Maharashtras Sindhudurg district. The statue, which honored the founder of the Maratha Empire, was brought down amid heavy rainfall and strong winds that have battered the region over the past few days. Cause of collapse under investigationThe exact cause of the collapse remains unclear, but officials have noted the severe weather conditions in Sindhudurg as a potential factor. The statue, which was unveiled by PM Modi on December 4 last year during Navy Day celebrations, came down at around 1 PM on Monday. Local authorities, including senior police and district officials, quickly arrived at the scene to assess the damage and investigate the incident.Opposition slams govt over poor quality workThe collapse of the statue has sparked sharp criticism from opposition parties, who have blamed the Maharashtra government for poor construction quality. Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Vaibhav Naik, who visited the site, alleged that the statues collapse was due to shoddy work and called for a thorough investigation into those responsible for its construction and installation.KADI NINDA ALERT | The 35-foot statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, proudly unveiled by coalition dealer, Narendra Modi, at a fort in Sindhudurg district eight months ago collapsed today.We humbly request everyone to do Kadi Ninda to strongly condemn the reckless act of… pic.twitter.com/KKuWyYcLuH— Congress Kerala (@INCKerala) August 26, 2024Echoing these sentiments, NCP (SP) state president and former minister Jayant Patil accused the state government of negligence. The government is to blame for this collapse. They failed to ensure the quality of work, focusing instead on organizing an event for PM Modi to unveil the statue, Patil said.Demands for accountabilityShiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi also criticized the government, questioning the accountability of the contractor involved in the statues construction. Who was the contractor What action will be taken against them How much bribe did the contractor pay to the government Chaturvedi tweeted, referencing ongoing concerns about corruption in the state.Govt pledges to erect new statueIn response to the outcry, state minister Deepak Kesarkar assured that a new statue would be erected at the same location. He emphasized the governments commitment to addressing the issue promptly, noting that PWD Minister Ravindra Chavan, who is also the guardian minister of Sindhudurg district, has ordered a thorough investigation into the matter.We will take all necessary steps to replace the statue and honor Shivaji Maharajs legacy, Kesarkar stated.
