A political storm has erupted in Maharashtra following the collapse of a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, with criminal charges filed against the sculptor and structural auditor. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Chief Minister extended apologies, and an inquiry committee was formed. The Navy, which oversaw the statue’s erection, also expressed regret.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced a joint investigation between the Navy and state government, along with plans to rebuild a grand statue at the same Rajkot site. While the government took action, the opposition ramped up its criticism, accusing the administration of negligence. Some view this criticism as exaggerated and divisive, injecting communal tensions into Maharashtra’s political climate.
Opposition leaders, including Aaditya Thackeray and others, visited the Rajkot Fort, but their actions sparked controversy, with accusations of provocative behavior and inflammatory rhetoric. Notably, these leaders did not attend the statue’s inauguration, yet gathered in the aftermath of its collapse, further intensifying the political conflict. Criminal charges have been filed against the sculptor and the structural auditor responsible for erecting the statue, and an inquiry committee has been established.
Citizens and political observers have criticized the opposition’s approach, accusing them of politicizing Chhatrapati Shivaji’s legacy for electoral gains. Senior leaders like Sharad Pawar have also been criticized for stoking caste-based divisions, raising concerns about communal unrest in the state.
