Opposition Stages 'Hit With Footwear' Yatra In Mumbai Over Shivaji Statue Collapse

The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition is staging a protest in Mumbai today, taking a strong stand against the Eknath Shinde-led government following the collapse of a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Maharashtra's Sindhudurg district.

The protest, named "Chappal Jode Maaro Yatra" (hit with footwear), has seen participation from top opposition leaders, including Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, state Congress president Nana Patole, and Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) supremo Sharad Pawar.

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The protest was ignited by the collapse of a 35-foot statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, which had been unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year at a fort in Sindhudurg district.

The statue's collapse on August 26, reportedly due to strong winds, has led to widespread public outcry and has become a focal point of opposition to the current government.

Hundreds of opposition party workers joined the march, carrying massive slippers as a symbolic gesture of their anger and frustration.

The march began at Hutatma Chowk, a significant historical site commemorating those who died in the 'Samyukta Maharashtra' agitation, and proceeded to the Shivaji statue at the Gateway of India.

Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray, Nana Patole, and Congress's Mumbai head Varsha Gaikwad officially launched the protest by laying wreaths at Hutatma Chowk. A bust of the legendary warrior king was also placed at the memorial as a mark of respect.

Protesters carried placards condemning the statue's collapse and shouted slogans against the Eknath Shinde government, demanding accountability for what they view as a major failure.

Despite the peaceful nature of the protest, tensions were high, and the Mumbai Police had deployed a heavy security presence along the protest route.

The area surrounding the Gateway of India was completely cordoned off to prevent any potential escalation.

Although the Mumbai Police did not grant permission for the full protest march, they allowed a gathering at Hutatma Chowk. Only senior leaders were permitted to proceed further to the Gateway of India.

In response to the MVA's protest, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis sharply criticized the demonstration, labeling it as a purely political move. He accused the MVA and Congress of historically disrespecting Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, stating, "This agitation is completely political."

Fadnavis went on to accuse Congress of dishonoring Shivaji Maharaj in various ways over the years.

He cited Jawaharlal Nehru's portrayal of Shivaji Maharaj in The Discovery of India, saying, "Be it the Maha Vikas Aghadi or the Congress party, they have never respected Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Nehru ji insulted Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in The Discovery of India. Will Congress and MVA apologise for it?"

He also pointed to other incidents involving Congress, including the demolition of a Shivaji Maharaj statue in Madhya Pradesh during Kamal Nath's tenure as Chief Minister, and the depiction of Shivaji Maharaj in Congress-led educational narratives as a looter of Surat.

"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 apologize for it?" Fadnavis added.

As the protest continued, MVA leaders remained resolute in their demand for accountability and justice over the statue collapse incident.

Meanwhile, the BJP continued to challenge the motivations behind the demonstration, framing it as a politically motivated move rather than a genuine concern for the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.