Shivaji statue collapse ‘example of corruption’, says Sharad Pawar

The opposition party led by Maha Vikas Aghadi has blamed the Mahayuti government’s “corruption” for the collapse of the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Malvan and called for the ouster of the ruling Mahayuti alliance.

On Sunday, senior MVA leaders like Sharad Pawar of NCPSP, Uddhav Thackeray of UBT and state Congress leader Nana Patole led a protest march from Hutatma Chowk to Gateway of India against the alleged corruption that toppled the statue of Shivaji at Malvan Fort. Sharad Pawar took issue with CM Eknath Shinde’s statement that attributed the statue’s fall to strong winds. “There are numerous statues of Shivaji Maharaj in our state. All these statues are fine. However, the statue at Malvan Fort collapsed because it was an example of corruption. There was corruption in the installation of the statue. This is an insult to Chhatrapati Maharaj,” Pawar said.

While Prime Minister Modi apologised for the statue’s fall during his trip to Mumbai, Thackeray said the prime minister’s speech had a tinge of “arrogance”. “Did you notice the arrogance in his apology?” Thackeray asked while addressing the protesters at the Gateway of India.