Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Thursday demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi issue an apology to every citizen in Maharashtra following the collapse of the statue of Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Malvan, Maharashtra.
“A few days ago, the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was damaged,” Gandhi said. “After this, Narendra Modi said, ‘I apologize to Shivaji Maharaj’… But, Narendra Modi has disrespected Shivaji Maharaj. He should apologize not just to Shivaji Maharaj, but to every person in Maharashtra.”
Gandhi made this statement while addressing a gathering in Sangli, where he also unveiled a life-size statue of the late Congress leader Patangrao Kadam, who had held various ministerial positions in Maharashtra.
“…I guarantee that Kadam ji’s (Patangrao Kadam) statue will stand here for the next 50-70 years,” Gandhi said.
He also emphasized that Congress’ ideology is deeply embedded in Maharashtra’s identity, and accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of only benefiting a privileged few under its rule.
“…Congress’ ideology is in Maharashtra’s DNA. There used to be political debates, but today, we are engaged in an ideological struggle in India. We aim for social progress, while they (BJP) seek to ensure that only a select few gain all the advantages,” he added, as reported by ANI.
Shivaji’s Statue Collapse
The 35-foot statue of Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Rajkot Fort collapsed on August 26 due to gusty winds, sparking a major political controversy in Maharashtra ahead of upcoming assembly elections. The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Mahayuti alliance for installing a poorly constructed statue and accused them of corruption. Modi had originally unveiled the statue on Navy Day in December 2023.
On Wednesday, the Maharashtra Police arrested 24-year-old sculptor-contractor Jaydeep Apte from Kalyan, who was wanted in connection with the collapse.
Last week, Prime Minister Modi issued an apology for the incident during an event in Palghar.
“For me and my colleagues, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is not merely a name or a king, but a revered deity. Today, I bow my head at my revered deity’s feet and apologize. I also apologize to all those who worship Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, as I understand their sentiments are deeply hurt,” he said.
