Uddhav Thackeray, chief of Shiv Sena (UBT) criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of displaying vanity when apologizing for the collapse of a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Maharashtra. Throughout a protest organized by the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance in Mumbai, Thackeray remarked that the individuals of Maharashtra wouldn’t settle for the Prime Minister’s apology, perceiving it as insincere and full of vanity.
Thackeray stated, ”Did you discover the vanity within the (Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s) apology? It smacked of vanity. One deputy chief minister was smiling. The error (collapse) can’t be forgiven.”
“We’ve all gathered right here to demand ‘BJP get out of India’. For what was the PM apologising? For the statue, he inaugurated eight months in the past? For the corruption concerned?”, he added.
‘Jode Maro’ Protests
Thackeray made the assertion whereas talking to the group through the ‘jode maro’ (hit with footwear) protests towards the Mayahuti coalition authorities of Shiv Sena, BJP, and NCP.
The protest march commenced on the historic Hutatma Chowk and proceeded in direction of the Gateway of India in south Mumbai.It aimed to spotlight the perceived disrespect in direction of Shivaji Maharaj, a revered Maratha icon. The statue in query, positioned in Sindhudurg district, was unveiled by PM Modi on December 4, 2023, throughout Navy Day celebrations.
Sharad Pawar’s Stand
Sharad Pawar, chief of the Nationalist Congress Celebration (NCP-SP), additionally criticized the ruling celebration, stating that the incident had insulted Shivaji Maharaj and suggesting that there was a widespread perception of corruption within the statue’s building. Pawar emphasised the symbolic significance of Shivaji Maharaj to the individuals of Maharashtra and condemned the shoddy work that led to the statue’s collapse.
Chief Minister’s Response
Maharashtra’s Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde, expressed his sorrow over the incident however cautioned towards politicizing the matter. Shinde emphasised that Shivaji Maharaj represents greater than only a political determine in Maharashtra; he’s an icon of id and religion. Whereas condemning the statue’s collapse as unlucky, Shinde warned that turning it right into a political difficulty can be a mistake, criticizing the opposition for exploiting the incident for political acquire.
Shinde additionally condemned the latest vandalism of a Shivaji statue in Karnataka, asserting that these accountable ought to face extreme penalties. He assured that the individuals of Maharashtra are observant and would ship a becoming response within the upcoming elections.
