The collapse of a 35-foot statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Sindhudurg has sparked a political firestorm, with All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Chief Asaduddin Owaisi accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of failing in their commitment to infrastructure quality.
Owaisi, taking to social media platform X, criticized the BJP for what he described as subpar infrastructure development. “The 35-feet Shivaji Statue inaugurated by Narendra Modi collapsed today (Monday). It’s a reflection of the poor quality of infrastructure built by Modi sarkar. Shivaji was a symbol of equality and secularism; his statue’s collapse is an example of Narendra Modi’s lack of commitment to Shivaji’s vision,” Owaisi stated.
The statue, unveiled on Navy Day on December 4, 2023, was a significant symbol for the people of Sindhudurg. However, the statue’s collapse has led to intense scrutiny and criticism. The local police have filed an FIR against contractor Jaydeep Apte and structural consultant Chetan Patil. The FIR, which includes charges under sections 109, 110, 125, 318, and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), signifies the serious nature of the allegations against those involved in the statue’s construction.
In response to the incident, the Indian Navy has expressed deep concern and has deployed a team to investigate the cause of the collapse. “Along with the State Government and concerned specialists, the Navy has deputed a team to immediately investigate the cause of this unfortunate accident and initiate steps to repair, restore, and reinstate the statue at the earliest,” the Navy said in a statement.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who described the incident as “unfortunate,” announced that officials from the Public Works Department (PWD) and the Navy will visit the site on August 27 to determine the cause of the collapse. Shinde suggested that strong winds were a factor in the statue’s fall but assured that the government is committed to uncovering the exact reasons behind the incident. “The Maharashtra government will find out the reasons behind this incident and reinstall the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at the same place,” Shinde affirmed.