Shivaji statue collapse: ‘100 ft statue must now be built’, says Maharashtra Minister Deepak Kesarkar
The Hindu
Maharashtra Minister proposes 100-foot Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue after collapse, sparking political blame game and investigations.
After a 35-foot Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue in Sindhudurg collapsed on Monday (August 26, 2024), Maharashtra Minister Deepak Kesarkar said that it is sad, but a 100 feet tall statue should be made in its place.
He also said that he would speak to the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister and have all the estimates ready.
Mr. Kesarkar said, “I haven’t been there yet. But I have to say that this statue was erected there by the Navy. They said that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was the first naval king and they built the statue in his honour. It is sad but there will be good things now. There was a demand from the people that a 100-foot statue should be built here. I will also talk to the CM and Deputy CM and we have the estimates ready for building it,” Mr. Kesarkar said. “If that statue has broken now, then a 100-foot-tall statue should be made in its place. This is my feeling,” he added.T
The collapse of the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj has drawn sharp criticism with UBT Sena MLA Aditya Thackeray blaming the BJP. “We will never tolerate the insult of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who is our and all Maharashtra’s idol. Chhatrapati Shivaji’s memorial in Malvan, which was built in haste keeping the elections in sight and inaugurated by Modi ji, collapsed today in just 8 months. The contractor regime of the government is the reason for this,” Mr. Thackeray said in a post on X.
Leader of Opposition and Congress MLA Vijay Wadettiwar called for a detailed probe into the incident.
Earlier, local police filed an FIR against contractor Jaydeep Apte and structural consultant Chetan Patil following the collapse of the 35-foot Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue in Sindhudurg.
The FIR, registered under sections 109, 110, 125, 318, and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), was confirmed by Sindhudurg Police.
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