Sunday, 22 December 2024
Sunday, 22 December 2024
On August 26, the towering 35-foot statue of Maratha King Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, which stood as a proud symbol of Maharashtra’s legacy, crumbled at the Rajkot Fort in Sindhudurg district. Unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi less than a year ago on Navy Day, December 4, 2023, the statue’s sudden collapse sent shockwaves through the state and ignited a firestorm of controversy that has gripped both the government and the public.
The statue’s collapse has not just been a structural failure; it is being been seen as a monumental insult to one of the most revered figures in Maharashtra’s history. Sanjay Raut, a leader of the Shiv Sena (UBT), did not mince words as he accused those responsible of greater disrespect than even the Mughals or Aurangzeb could have mustered. "The construction was botched, and the insult is unforgivable," Raut stated, alleging a scam behind the statue’s fabrication.
His allegations gained weight when it was revealed that the Maharashtra Public Works Department (PWD) had flagged concerns about rust accumulating on the statue just days before its fall. In a letter to a Naval official, the PWD had recommended immediate measures to address the issue, but these warnings seemingly went unheeded.
The collapse has unleashed a torrent of blame across various levels of government and the institutions involved. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was quick to apologise to the people of Maharashtra during a public meeting in Latur district, vowing that those responsible—be they officials or contractors—would face strict action.
Meanwhile, the Indian Navy, which played a pivotal role in conceptualising and steering the project, distanced itself from the fiasco, pointing fingers at local factors like high wind speed and the quality of iron used in the statue’s construction.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, under intense pressure, also issued an apology. His words were solemn as he said, "Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is not just a name or a king. For us, he is our deity. Today, I bow my head at his feet and apologise to my deity."
The PM's apology, far from soothing tensions, was met with sharp criticism from Opposition leaders. Congress leader Nana Patole dismissed the apology as insufficient, stating it had 'hurt the pride of Maharashtra,' while Uddhav Thackeray mocked Modi’s statement as 'smacking of arrogance.'
A FIR was registered against the artist Jaydeep Apte, who crafted the statue, and Chetan Patil, the structural consultant, was arrested in Kolhapur on August 30. Apte, however, remains untraceable, adding another layer of mystery to the scandal.
Allegations of corruption and shoddy workmanship have dominated the discourse, with Congress leader Nana Patole suggesting that Apte was close to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). This drew a sharp retort from state cultural affairs minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, who sarcastically noted that Apte was, in fact, close to Rahul Gandhi.
The controversy escalated further when leaders of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) took to the streets on September 1, marching from Hutatma Chowk to Gateway of India in a symbolic protest against the collapse. Uddhav Thackeray, Sharad Pawar, and other Opposition leaders used the opportunity to lambast the ruling Mahayuti government, accusing it of corruption and negligence. Pawar called the incident a glaring example of the government’s failure to protect the state's heritage.
In response to the uproar, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde pledged to rebuild the statue. "I will not hesitate to touch the feet of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj 100 times and apologise for this incident if required," Shinde declared, urging that the warrior king should be kept out of political squabbles.
The Maharashtra government has established a technical committee comprising engineers, IIT experts, and Navy officials to probe the reasons behind the collapse. As the investigation unfolds, the state's political landscape is expected to remain fraught with tension, with the Opposition keen to keep the issue alive as a symbol of the government’s incompetence.
