NEW DELHI: Deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis criticized Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) for politicizing the collapse of a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, during a protest march called by MVA. He claimed that MVA and Congress never respected Shivaji Maharaj, citing historical examples, while police increased security in response to the march. The incident took place on August 26 in Sindhudurg, Maharashtra, involving a 35-foot-tall statue unveiled last year.
Fadnavis stated, “This agitation is completely political.Be it Maha Vikas Aghadi or Congress party, they never respected Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Nehru ji insulted Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in The Discovery of India. Will Congress and MVA apologise for it? In Madhya Pradesh, the then CM Kamal Nath demolished the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj with a bulldozer. Even years after independence, the same Congress taught us that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj looted Surat. He never looted Surat. People of Surat erected a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj there. Will Congress apologise for it?”

Echoing Fadnavis’s sentiments, NCP general secretary and MP Sunil Tatkare said it was inappropriate for MVA to politicize the incident. Tatkare remarked, “It is unfortunate that the incident took place, but Maha Vikas Aghadi is politicizing this. It is inappropriate. The Prime Minister, Chief Minister, and both Deputy Chief Ministers have apologized. So I don’t think it is right to politicize it.”
In response to MVA’s call for a protest, Mumbai police tightened security throughout the city. The protest march was set to proceed from Hutatma Chowk to the Gateway of India. Various security personnel were deployed as a precautionary measure.
The collapse of the statue took place in Sindhudurg district on August 26. The statue had been unveiled on December 4, 2022, as part of Navy Day celebrations held in Sindhudurg for the first time. In connection with the collapse, Chetan Patil, the structural consultant of the statue, was arrested from Kolhapur. An FIR was registered against him under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), confirmed by Sindhudurg Police.
On Thursday, Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde announced that the state government was taking urgent steps to reconstruct the statue. He stated that two committees had been formed, including one to investigate the collapse in the Malvan area.