Shivaji Maharaj's Statue Collapse In Maharashtra Sparks Political Blame Game; FIR Filed, Indian Navy Deploys Team

After a 35-foot statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj collpased in Maharashtra's Sindhudurg due to heavy rains and storms, a political blame game has begun in the state.

The statue was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December 2023. The opposition is now accusing the ruling coalition of corruption and demanding an investigation.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Police has registered a First Information Report (FIR) against contractor Jaydeep Apte and structural consultant Chetan Patil under various sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita (BNS).

The statue was unveiled on Navy Day and hence, taking note of it, the Indian Navy said it has deputed a team to immediately investigate the cause of this unfortunate accident.

Calling the incident "unfortunate," Shinde said, "Due to strong winds of around 45 km/h, it fell and got damaged." Public Works Minister Ravindra Chavan then visited the site on Shinde's orders.

Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) state president Jayant Patil accused the government of paying little attention to the quality of work and more to PM Modi's event of unveiling the statue.

Another leader of NCP (SP), MP Supriya Sule demanded a thorough investigation to determine why the quality of the statue's work was 'so poor' and urged to address other related issues.

Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leaders like Sanjay Raut and Aaditya Thackeray alleged that the statue fell due to work being done in hurry keeping Lok Sabha elections in mind.