Collapse of Recently Unveiled Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Statue Sparks Controversy

The statue of Maratha King Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, recently unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Rajkot Fort, Maharashtra, collapsed due to heavy rains and winds. Opposition parties criticize the state government for poor quality work. An investigation into the incident has been promised.

The statue of Maratha King Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a fort in Maharashtra's Sindhudurg district, collapsed on Monday, an official confirmed.

Following the incident, opposition parties have blamed the state government, alleging a lack of attention to the quality of work. The 35-foot statue fell at around 1 pm at Rajkot Fort in Malvan, coinciding with heavy rains and strong winds in the area.

Senior officials from the police and district administration were quick to arrive at the site to assess the damage. Opposition leaders, including NCP (SP) state president Jayant Patil and Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Vaibhav Naik, criticized the government, accusing it of prioritizing the event over the quality of the statue's construction. Maharashtra Minister Deepak Kesarkar stated a thorough investigation would be conducted, promising to erect a new statue at the same location.

(With inputs from agencies.)