The recently unveiled statue of Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Rajkot Fort in Sindhudurg has collapsed, prompting a storm of criticism against the state government. The 35-foot statue, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi just eight months ago, fell on Monday due to what Chief Minister Eknath Shinde attributed to “strong winds.”
The incident has sparked a backlash from opposition parties. Chief Minister Shinde stated that the statue, designed and constructed by the Indian Navy, was affected by winds blowing at 45 km per hour. “It is unfortunate, but we will rebuild the statue even stronger with the Navy’s assistance,” Shinde assured.
The collapse has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition. NCP (SP) state president Jayant Patil criticized the government’s oversight of quality and demanded a probe. Supriya Sule, Lok Sabha MP, called for an investigation into the construction’s substandard quality and urged blacklisting of the contractor involved. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray also condemned the hasty execution, attributing the issue to political expediency rather than quality workmanship.
Sindhudurg guardian minister Ravindra Chavan confirmed that a case has been filed against the contractor and structural consultant. A detailed investigation into the incident is underway, with Public Works Department officials scheduled to visit the site.
Cabinet Minister Deepak Kesarkar reaffirmed the government’s commitment to rebuilding the statue, emphasizing that all necessary steps will be taken to address the issue.
