Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered an apology for the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue collapse in Maharashtra Sindhudurg on Friday stating his remorse for the unfortunate incident. Speaking at a public rally in Palghar, Modi said, “When in 2013 the BJP declared me as its PM candidate, the first thing that I did was to offer my prayers at the place where the mortal remains of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj are buried at Raigad. ”
Paying his respects to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Modi stressed, “For us, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is not a name; he is a god. Today, I, as an Indian, bow down to my god, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Our principles are different; we are not like those who continue to disrespect and abuse the great sons of Mother India like Veer Savarkar.”
The prime minister’s comments followed continued debate about the buttering down of the 35-foot statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue on August 26. The statue installed on Navy Day, on the 4th of December the previous year, was intended to commemorate the Maratha navy and the contribution of the great warrior king – Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the maritime domain. The collapse of the statue has raised public fury and condemnation, most notably coming from the opposition.
The Congress party used the situation and called for an apology from the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In response, Mumbai Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad minced no words in severely forming the Prime Minister, saying, ˈChhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is reverted across Maharashtra and India, and we have utilised the term ‘king of the people’. The statue, which was made at Rajkot Fort of Malvan and installed by PM Modi, has fallen.
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