Rahul Gandhi Criticizes PM Modi Over Shivaji Maharaj Statue Collapse
Image Source: ETV Bharat
Allegations of Corruption in Statue Construction
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has strongly criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the recent collapse of a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Maharashtra. The 35-foot statue, which was built only a few months ago, fell apart, sparking outrage and raising concerns about corruption in its construction. Speaking at an event in Sangli, Gandhi pointed out that the contract for the statue’s construction was awarded to an RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) worker, which he claimed was a key reason behind the poor quality of the work.
The statue’s collapse has been seen as a significant blow to the legacy of Shivaji Maharaj, a revered 17th-century warrior king whose importance holds deep emotional and cultural value for the people of Maharashtra. Gandhi further alleged that the Prime Minister might have felt the need to apologize because of the corruption involved in the project. He questioned why PM Modi would apologize if there was no wrongdoing, implying that the Prime Minister’s apology suggests an acknowledgment of misconduct in the statue’s construction.
PM Modi’s Apology and Contractor’s Arrest
After the statue’s collapse, PM Modi issued a public apology, not only to Shivaji Maharaj but also to his followers and the people of Maharashtra, acknowledging the disappointment caused by the incident. Modi called Shivaji Maharaj his “deity” and expressed regret that such an important symbol of the warrior king’s legacy does not stand. The apology came during an event at Rajkot Fort in Sindhudurg, where Modi recognized the emotional significance of the statue for many Indians.
Following the collapse, Jaydeep Apte, the sculptor-contractor responsible for building the statue, was arrested by Maharashtra Police after being on the run for nearly 10 days. Apte, who owned a small art company in Kalyan, had no prior experience in building large statues, a fact that has raised further doubts about the process that led to his hiring. In addition to Apte, structural engineer Chetan Patil was also arrested in connection with the incident. Gandhi also claimed that Apte had personal ties to the son of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, further fueling speculation about corruption in the project.
Gandhi argued that the failure of the statue to stand could be attributed to fraud and the misuse of public funds. He demanded that PM Modi apologize not just to Shivaji Maharaj but to the people of Maharashtra for this failure. Gandhi concluded by contrasting the poor quality of the Shivaji Maharaj statue with the one he had briefly unveiled of his late party colleague, Patangrao Kadam, confidently stating that it would stand for the next 50–70 years.
The incident has caused significant embarrassment for the ruling government, especially given the symbolic importance of Shivaji Maharaj’s legacy in Maharashtra politics. With state elections approaching, the opposition is likely to continue leveraging the issue to challenge the current administration.
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