Uddhav Thackeray, leader of the Shiv Sena (UBT) and former Chief Minister of Maharashtra, sharply criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a massive rally in Mumbai, organized in response to the collapse of the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Sindhudurg. Thackeray accused the Prime Minister of displaying arrogance in his apology for the incident, which has become a significant point of contention in the state.
The rally, led by the opposition alliance Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which includes the Shiv Sena (UBT), the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Sharad Pawar, and the Congress, saw thousands of supporters march from the iconic Hutatma Chowk to the Gateway of India. The protest was fueled by anger over the collapse of the statue, which was unveiled by PM Modi in December 2023, and the subsequent apology offered by him, which Thackeray and other leaders described as insincere and dismissive.
Addressing the gathering at the Gateway of India, Thackeray stated that the people of Maharashtra would never forgive the insult to Shivaji Maharaj, a revered figure in the state. He criticized the Prime Minister's apology, claiming it "smacked of arrogance" and highlighted that one of the deputy chief ministers was seen smiling during the incident, further aggravating the situation. Thackeray used the occasion to rally the MVA against the BJP, urging unity in the face of what he described as repeated insults to Maharashtra's heritage and pride.
The collapse of the statue on August 26, just eight months after its inauguration, has sparked widespread outrage in Maharashtra. The statue, located at Rajkot fort in Sindhudurg, was meant to honor the legacy of the 17th-century Maratha king, but its fall has instead become a symbol of alleged corruption and negligence by the current administration. In his apology, PM Modi emphasized the deep respect he holds for Shivaji Maharaj, describing him as a deity, but this did little to quell the anger among Shivaji's followers and the opposition.
During the rally, Thackeray and other MVA leaders, including NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole, took part in a symbolic 'jode maro andolan' (hitting with slippers) against posters of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar. This act was intended to express their deep displeasure with the current BJP-led government in Maharashtra.
Sharad Pawar echoed Thackeray's sentiments, stating that the statue's collapse directly resulted from corruption and an insult to all followers of Shivaji Maharaj. He called on the people of Maharashtra to stand united against the BJP, which he accused of disrespecting the state's cultural icons.
Nana Patole also spoke out against the Mahayuti government, led by Eknath Shinde, arguing that the PM's apology was politically motivated, with an eye on the upcoming state elections. He emphasized that the opposition had already sought forgiveness from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj for allowing what he described as a "Shiv drohi" (traitor to Shivaji) government to come to power and pledged to prevent such a government from ever ruling Maharashtra again.
The rally in Mumbai, marked by the strong presence of MVA leaders and their supporters, underscored the deepening rift between the BJP and the opposition in Maharashtra, with the Shivaji statue incident serving as a flashpoint for broader political and cultural grievances. As the state heads towards elections, this issue is likely to remain a significant talking point, with the opposition aiming to leverage the sentiment surrounding Shivaji Maharaj to galvanize public support against the ruling party.
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