Statue of Shivaji Maharaj Collapses in Sindhudurg, Government Criticized

A statue of Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a fort in Maharashtra's Sindhudurg district eight months ago, collapsed on Monday. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde attributed the collapse to strong winds.

Chief Minister Shinde stated, "The wind was blowing at a speed of 45 km per hour, which caused the statue to fall. It is very unfortunate the statue has fallen as it was designed and built by the Navy. However, our guardian minister Ravindra Chavan has arrived at the spot to assess the situation, and we will rebuild this statue even stronger. Navy officials will also take part in the rebuilding efforts."

Government Response and Investigation

Sindhudurg guardian minister Ravindra Chavan, who also oversees the Public Works Department (PWD), mentioned that a case has been filed against Jaydeep Apte of M/s Artistry and structural consultant Chetan Patil. Both were involved in the statue project.

The BJP minister revealed that the Maharashtra government paid Rs 2.36 crore to the Navy for the statue's installation. He added that the entire process of selecting the artist and designing was managed by Navy officials. The work order was issued on September 8, 2023.

Chavan noted, "The steel used in making of the statue had started rusting. The PWD had already written to Navy officials informing them about the statue catching rust and requested them to take appropriate steps."

Opposition Criticism

The opposition Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) criticised the Mahayuti government over the incident. NCP state president Jayant Patil said, "The government is responsible for the collapse as it did not take proper care of the statue. The government paid little attention to the quality of work. It only focused on conducting an event where PM Modi was invited to unveil the statue."

His party colleague Supriya Sule demanded an investigation into the construction quality. She posted on X, "The statues collapse within a year reflects poorly on the quality of the work and calls for a thorough investigation into the substandard construction."

Shiv Sena's Reaction

Shiv Sena UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray criticised the Shinde-led government for prioritising contractors over actual work. He alleged that haste in completing the Shivaji Maharaj memorial was due to upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Shiv Sena UBT MLA Vaibhav Naik from Sindhudurg district accused poor construction quality for the collapse. He demanded a thorough probe into those responsible for building and installing the statue.

Navy's Statement

The Indian Navy expressed deep concern over the damage caused to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's statue. In a statement, they said they have deputed a team to investigate and initiate steps to restore and reinstate the statue promptly.

"The Indian Navy notes with deep concern the damage caused this morning to the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj that was unveiled on Navy Day on December 4, 2023, as a dedication to the citizens of Sindhudurg," read their statement.

Commitment to Rebuild

Cabinet minister Deepak Kesarkar reiterated that they are committed to erecting a new statue at Rajkot Fort. He emphasised that necessary steps would be taken promptly and effectively.

"We are committed to erecting a new statue at the same location. The statue unveiled by PM Modi last year pays tribute to Shivaji Maharaj's visionary efforts in building a sea fort," asserted Kesarkar.

The 35-foot statue collapsed around 1 pm at Rajkot Fort under Malvan tehsil in Sindhudurg district, approximately 480 km from Mumbai. Experts will determine the exact cause of the collapse, but recent heavy rains and gusty winds were noted as contributing factors.

Former Rajya Sabha MP Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati shared an old letter he wrote to PMO on December 12, criticising the artistic quality of the statue.

The incident has led to significant embarrassment for the state government and prompted scathing criticism from various political quarters.