New Delhi: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday slammed both state government and Centre for the collapse of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s statue in Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district. The former Maharashtra chief minister termed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s apology as one “smacking of arrogance”. He along with the constituents of Maha Vikas Aghadi – Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (SP) and Congress – on Sunday took part in a protest march from Hutatma Chowk to Gateway of India in south Mumbai over the collapse.
Thackeray, Sharad Pawar and Nana Patole in protest march
“Did you notice the arrogance in the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s apology? It smacked of arrogance. One deputy chief minister was smiling.” “The mistake (collapse) cannot be forgiven. We have all gathered here to demand ‘BJP get out of India’,” said Thackeray, while addressing a gathering at the Gateway of India.
Along with Thackeray, NCP(SP) chief Sharad Pawar, Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole and other leaders and workers joined the march. Baramati MP Supriya Sule and former state minister Anil Deshmukh too took part in the protest rally.
Thackeray also questioned why the PM was apologising. “For what was the PM apologising? For the statue he inaugurated eight months ago? For the corruption involved? The MVA cadre must work together to defeat the forces that have insulted Shivaji Maharaj. The collapse of the statue is an insult to the soul of Maharashtra,” he added.
‘Statue collapse example of corruption’
Sharad Pawar in his address too talked about corruption, saying, “The collapse of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s statue in Sindhudurg is an example of corruption. It is an insult to all Shiv premis (followers of the warrior king).”
Earlier on Friday, PM Modi, while addressing a rally in Palghar he said, “Today, I bow my head at his feet and apologise to my deity.”
The statue of the 17th century Maratha warrior king, unveiled by PM Modi on December 4, 2023, fell on August 26.
