A statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, which was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year in December, collapsed on Monday at Rajkot Fort in Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district. According to an official, the 35-foot statue fell around 1 pm, possibly due to heavy rains and gusty winds that have affected the region over the past few days.
Following the incident, senior officials from the police and district administration arrived at the site to assess the damage and investigate the cause of the collapse. Experts will conduct a thorough examination to determine the exact reasons behind the incident.
The statue, which was unveiled by PM Modi on December 4, 2023, during Navy Day celebrations at the fort, has become the center of a political storm. Opposition parties have criticized the Maharashtra state government, accusing it of negligence and poor quality workmanship.
Jayant Patil, NCP (SP) state president and former minister, stated, “The state government is responsible for the collapse, as it did not take proper care. The government paid little attention to the quality of work. It only focused on conducting an event where Prime Minister Narendra Modi was invited to unveil the statue.”
Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Vaibhav Naik also condemned the state government, calling for a thorough investigation into the construction and erection of the statue.
Maharashtra Minister Deepak Kesarkar responded by emphasizing that the government would conduct a comprehensive inquiry and take immediate action. “We are committed to erecting a new statue at the same location and addressing this matter promptly and effectively,” he said.