Written By Lisa Murimi
The collapse of a massive statue of 17th-century warrior king Shivaji Shahaji Bhosale has ignited protests and a political firestorm in Maharashtra, just weeks before state elections.
Shivaji, revered as a hero for his resistance against the Mughals and celebrated as an icon of the Hindu right, is a significant figure in the state.
The statue’s fall has placed the ruling coalition, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), on the defensive and given the opposition a powerful issue to exploit.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who inaugurated the statue in December, apologized, acknowledging the deep hurt felt by Shivaji’s devotees.
“I extend my apologies to all those who worship Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as their revered deity,” Modi stated.
The 35-ft statue, built at a cost of 23.6 million rupees in Sindhudurg district, collapsed on August 26 amid heavy monsoon rains.
The opposition has accused Chief Minister Eknath Shinde of corruption in its construction, demanding his resignation.
Senior leader Sharad Pawar emphasized that other Shivaji statues remain standing, pointing to potential flaws in the installation process.
State ministers have denied the corruption allegations, blaming the collapse on strong coastal winds.
The public works department had earlier reported rust in the statue’s nuts and bolts. The opposition has organized state-wide protests, while the BJP has countered, accusing them of politicizing the incident.
