Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday apologised to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj over the collapse of 35-foot-tall statue of the Maratha warrior at Sindhudurg’s Rajkot Fort earlier this week.
“Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is not just a name or a king. For us, he is our deity. Today, I bow my head at his feet and apologise to my deity,” the prime minister said while addressing the foundation stone laying event of Vadhvan Port project in Maharashtra’s Palghar district.
Read More: Shivaji Statue Collapse: Police Arrest Structural Consultant From Kolhapur
Palghar, Maharashtra: Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, “Before discussing this event, I want to express my heartfelt emotions. When the Bharatiya Janata Party designated me as the candidate for Prime Minister in 2013, the first thing I did was go to the Raigad Fort, sit in… pic.twitter.com/j4n8iDN5Rc— IANS (@ians_india) August 30, 2024
He also apologised to the followers of the Maratha king and to those who consider Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to be their “Aaradhya Dev”.
“Those who consider Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to be their Aaradhya Dev, I bow my head and apologize to those who have been deeply hurt by this Aaradhya Dev. I bow my head and apologize to those who have been deeply hurt by this Aaradhya Dev. My values are different. For me, there is nothing greater than my Aaradhya Dev,” he added.
A 35-foot statue of the Maratha king, unveiled by PM Modi last year on the occasion of Indian Navy Day, at Rajkot fort in Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district, collapsed on August 26.
PM Slams opposition for ‘insulting’ Veer Savarkar
The prime minister also took a jibe at opposition leaders for insulting and attacking freedom fighter and Hindutva ideologue Veer Savarkar and his ideology on various occasions.
“Our values are different. For us, nothing is bigger than our deity. Some people keep abusing Veer Savarkar but are not ready to apologise for insulting him, they are ready to go to the courts and fight,” he said.
Palghar, Maharashtra: Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, “Our values are different. We are not the kind of people who keep abusing the great son of India’s mother, the son of this very land, Veer Savarkar, and keep humiliating him. Despite this, despite abusing Veer Savarkar,… pic.twitter.com/cWEYTPfIZG— IANS (@ians_india) August 30, 2024
Read More: Joint Technical Committee Formed To Investigate Collapse of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Statue
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is fighting a criminal defamation case filed by VD Savarkar’s grandson, Satyaki Savarkar. The Lok Sabha LoP is accused of making false allegations against the Hindutva ideologue during his address in London.
Collapse incident
A 35-foot statue of the Maratha king, unveiled by PM Modi last year on the occasion of Indian Navy Day, at Rajkot fort in Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district, collapsed on August 26.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had said the statue was designed and constructed by the Indian Navy. Following the collapse of the statue, the Indian Navy ordered an investigation into the incident.
The Maharashtra Public Works Department (PWD) had flagged concerns over rust gathering on Shivaji Maharaj’s statue and suggested permanent measures in a letter sent to a Naval official just six days before the structure collapsed, reported PTI.
Read more: Video: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s Statue, Unveiled Last Year, Collapses In Maharashtra; FIR Filed
Meanwhile, a structural consultant Chetan Patil, named in the FIR registered in connection with the collapse incident, has been arrested in Kolhapur. P atil was taken into custody late on Thursday night and was handed over to the Sindhudurg police for further investigation, said Kolhapur Superintendent of Police Mahendra Pandit.
The collapse of the statue sparked a state-wide outrage, with the opposition targeting the government and accusing it of insulting Shivaji Maharaj.
(With inputs from agencies)
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