Sharad Pawar Blames Corruption for Shivaji Maharaj Statue Collapse

NCP(SP) chief Sharad Pawar accused corruption of causing the collapse of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's statue on Rajkot fort in Sindhudurg district. Speaking in Kagal, Pawar welcomed BJP leader Raje Samarjeet Ghatge to NCP(SP) and highlighted the need for clean leadership. He criticized current officials' corruption.

Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday attributed corruption to the recent collapse of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue on Rajkot fort in Sindhudurg district.

Addressing an event in Kagal, Kolhapur district, where BJP leader Raje Samarjeet Ghatge joined NCP(SP), Pawar emphasized the strategic significance of the sea forts constructed by Shivaji Maharaj. He expressed shock over the statue's collapse, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi just months ago.

Pawar criticized the attribution of the collapse to strong winds by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. He pointed out that the Shivaji Maharaj statue at Mumbai's Gateway of India, installed 60 years ago, still stands firm. The NCP(SP) chief accused current powers of blatant corruption in statue construction and stressed the need for clean and virtuous leadership.

(With inputs from agencies.)