A 35-foot statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December 2023 at Rajkot Fort in coastal Malvan in Sindhudurg district, collapsed on Monday afternoon at around 1 pm amidst heavy rainfall and strong winds. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde blamed the statue collapse due to strong winds. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had unveiled the statue barely nine months back on December 4, 2023 on the occasion of Navy Day.
However, the opposition slammed ruling coalition alleging corruption in constructing the statue and sought investigation into its construction and causes of its collapse.
Reports revealed the government rushed its senior PWD minister Ravindra Chavan to Malvan to minimise political damage and announced filing of cases against government officials, contractors and the sculptors.
While experts are set to determine the exact cause, the official noted that the district had experienced heavy rains and strong winds over the past two to three days, a reason being cited for the collapse during preliminary investigations.
Reacting to the incident, CM Eknath Shinde said that all were emotionally attached to thelegendary king (Shivaji Maharaj) as all worshipped as God. “The statue collapsed due to strong winds which is unfortunate. Investigations are on to ascertain the ground level status of the incident,” he said
Immediately after the statue collapse, Opposition parties lashed out at the Maharashtra government, alleging corruption leading to inferior quality of work in statue construction.
NCP (SP) state president and former minister Jayant Patil said, “The state government is responsible for the collapse, as it did not take proper care. The government paid little attention to the quality of work. It only focused on conducting an event where Prime Minister Narendra Modi was invited to unveil the statue.”
Vaibhav Naik, an MLS of Shiv Sena (UBT) post visiting the site of collapse leveled allegations of inferior quality of construction.
Meanwhile Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi in a post on X also lashed out at Maharashtra government over the collapse of statue inaugurated by PM Modi last year and questioned whether action was taken against the contractor responsible for its construction.
Her post reads “The statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj erected at Sindhudurg collapsed today. Modi Ji had inaugurated the structure in December last year. Who was the contractor? Is it correct that the work was given to a Thane-based contractor? What action will be taken against the contractor? How much ‘khoke’ (bribe) did the contractor pass on to the ‘khoke sarkar’?”.
Reactions@X
Vinay Kumar Dokania@VinayDokania
“Bridges are collapsing, Airport roofs are collapsing, Roads are caving in, Parliament roof is leaking, Ayodhya Ram Mandir roof is leaking. Now #ChhatrapatiShivajiMaharaj Statue, inaugurated 9 months ago in December 2023 in Maharashtra by PM Modi, and his minions with full pomp and show, collapses…. Infrastructure in New India is doomed thanks to Panauti and his corruption!”
Manu@mshahi0024
“The Biggest Joke played with this nation. I am building India for 1000yrs – Modi. Meanhwhile most of the projects inaguarted by him r not even standing 10 mnths. Highways, Temples, Airports, Bridges all low quality work COLLAPSING. 35FT tall Statue of Shivaji Collapsed.”
Cin Cinati@ciney4u
“Outrageous. 70 saal ka hisaab maangne wale, Inke karaye kaam to 7 saal bhi nahi tik paa rahe imagine the corruption level”.
Nikita Arora@guks123
“After Airports, highways, temple corridors, leaks in the new parliament building, now Shivaji Maharaj’s statue inaugurated by the PM has crumbled. If this is not corruption of epic proportions, then what is? And is this not an insult to the great leader?”
S L Mehra@slmehra
“This 35 ft Statue of Shivaji, inaugurated by PM Sh Modi, perhaps, a less than year ago, hs fallen today in Sindhudurg, Maharashtra. Let’s find out an act of God or act of fraud”
Siddharth@SidKeVichaar
“4 December 2023: Statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji was unveiled in Maharashtra.
26 August 2024: The statue collapsed. Game over, money gone. Under modi govt, statues cannot last even a year and govt is making all the policies for 2047”
