Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday expressed his apology for the collapse of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue in Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg.
“Back in 2013, when the BJP named me as its PM candidate, the first thing I did was visit Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s samadhi at Raigad. As a devotee, I embarked on a new journey,” Modi said in Palghar.
“Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is more than just a name for us… Today, I bow my head and apologize to my god, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Our values are different. We are not like those who continue to insult the great son of Mother India, Veer Savarkar. They refuse to apologize and prefer to fight in court,” he stated.
The prime minister’s remarks come amid a controversy following the collapse of the 35-foot Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue on August 26.
The statue, unveiled on December 4 last year as part of the Navy Day celebrations in Sindhudurg, was intended to honor the legacy of the Maratha Navy and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s contributions to maritime defense and security.
The Congress party criticized the prime minister over the incident, demanding an apology.
“Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who is revered across Maharashtra and India and is known as the ‘people’s king,’ had his statue erected at Malvan’s Rajkot Fort, which was inaugurated by PM Modi. First of all, I want to ask PM Modi Ji about the bhumi-pujan he performed for the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue in the Arabian Sea,” Mumbai Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad said, according to ANI.
“Before that statue could be completed, the statue at Rajkot Fort in Malvan collapsed in just eight months. This clearly indicates corruption. Modi Ji, when will you apologize?” she added.
