MVA leaders Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray and Nana Patole lead the protest march from Hutatma Chowk to the Gateway of India on Sunday

MUMBAI: Lashing out at PM Narendra Modi, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray dismissed his apology for the collapse of the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Malvan last week. “PM Modi apologised. If there was no apology, Maharashtra would not have tolerated it. But when he apologised, there was arrogance on his face. We do not accept an apology made with arrogance,” Thackeray said on Sunday.”One of the deputy chief ministers was laughing on the dais. They are mocking Shivaji.”
Thackeray was speaking at the Jode Mara Andolan (hitting with slippers protest) in which key Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) leaders, including NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar and state Congress chief Nana Patole, participated. Congress MP from Kolhapur Shahu Maharaj, who is a descendant of Shivaji, was also present.
The protesters walked from Hutatma Chowk to the Shivaji statue at Gateway of India, where they hit posters with images of chief minister Eknath Shinde and his deputies Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar with slippers.
“We are here at the Gateway of India to express our anger against those who have betrayed Shivaji. It is time for this illegal govt to get out of India,” said Thackeray. “Why did Modi apologise? Because the statue fell or because there was corruption behind its installation? Or to shield the corruption?”
Patole, Shahu Maharaj, and Congress national spokesperson Pawan Khera said the ‘Jode Mara Andolan’ will be launched across the state from Monday.
The Shivaji statue at Rajkot fort in Sindhudurg’s Malvan taluka, unveiled by Modi on Dec 4, 2023, on Navy Day, collapsed on Aug 26. Modi tendered an apology at an event in Palghar on August 30.
Pawar said, “After the statue collapsed, Shinde said this happened because of the wind. But the Shivaji statue at the Gateway of India has stood for more than 50 years even though it is near the seashore. The statue erected in Malvan is an example of corruption. It is an insult to Shivaji and his followers across the country.”
Patole said, “The govt that has betrayed Shivaji should be thrown out in both the Centre and the state. They claim to worship Shivaji, but they insult him,” he said.
Shahu Maharaj said, “What happened has angered people across the country. It is an insult to Maharashtra. There should be strong action against the culprits. The respect towards Shivaji Maharaj should be maintained.”
Senior leaders, including MP from NCP (SP) Supriya Sule, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, and Mumbai Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad, were also present at the protest.
Patole, Shahu Maharaj, and Khera concurred that Modi’s apology smacked of arrogance and the people of the state have rejected it. “We urge Fadnavis not to spread fake narrative. From Monday, we will intensify our agitation to protest collapse of the statue. There was corruption at all stages in construction and installation of the statue,” the Congress leaders said.
Patole said it is shocking that the Mahayuti govt sponsored an agitation against MVA’s jode maro andolan and now Fadnavis is setting a fake narrative, saying, it was Congress which was insulting Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. “When Jawaharlal Nehru unveiled the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on Pratapgarh, he had observed that entire country was proud of him. It appears that Fadnavis has not read the book written by Nehru, therefore, he has set the fake narrative,” Patole said.
He added Fadnavis has not tendered an apology yet even as the main accused — sculptor Jaydeep Apte — is still absconding. “Fadnavis must take the responsibility and render an unconditional apology for dereliction of duty,” Patole demanded.
Khera said sentiments of people have been hurt, shockingly, there was arrogance in the apology tendered by the PM. “BJP is anti-Shivaji, this reflects from its actions,” he said.