A “Joote Maro Andolan” is being organized against the government by the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in Mumbai on Sunday. This movement has been organized in protest against the fall of the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad strongly attacked the government on this issue and said that the government should be ashamed of this incident and should resign immediately.
Mahavikas Aghadi (MVA) leaders on Sunday took out a massive march from Hutatma Chowk in South Mumbai to the Gateway of India to protest against the fall of the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra. The statue was of 17th century Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, which was installed at Rajkot Fort in Malvan tehsil of Sindhudurg district. The statue fell on August 26. Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled it on the occasion of Navy Day on December 4, 2023.
Varsha Gaikwad attacked the BJP and said that “there is no court bigger than Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and BJP has now become a corrupt party.” She raised the question that the statue built by Jawaharlal Nehru is still standing even after 67 years, then what is BJP protesting on when the government is theirs. She also alleged that Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has not apologized on this matter till now.
Uddhav Thackeray and Aditya reached Hutatma Chowk
In this movement, Uddhav Thackeray and Aditya Thackeray also reached Hutatma Chowk. A large number of slippers and shoes have been brought here which are a symbol of this protest. The protesters have not been allowed to proceed beyond Hutatma Chowk, due to which the situation has become tense there.
Shivsena’s big agitation against Mahayuti government
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) has announced a massive agitation against the Mahayuti government. Senior party leader and MP Sanjay Raut had announced that a “Shoot Maro Andolan” will be launched from Sunday. After this, the workers are gathering for this campaign today.
Sanjay Raut had targeted the government over the Shivaji Maharaj statue controversy and said, “That statue is not just a statue for us, but a statue of God. These people have committed corruption even in the statue of our God. We will not tolerate this and will start a big movement against the government from Sunday.”
NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray, Congress state president Nana Patole and party’s Mumbai unit chief Varsha Gaikwad started the protest march by paying tribute to the martyrs of the ‘Samyukta Maharashtra’ movement at Hutatma Chowk. NCP (SP) leader Rajesh Tope and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sunil Prabhu said that the purpose of this protest march is to voice the anger of the people of Maharashtra, who are hurt by the fall of the statue. There is deep resentment among the people only eight months after the incident of the statue falling, especially because it was inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi. Sunil Prabhu said that this protest is peaceful.
The march started after 11 am and was joined by Congress MP from Kolhapur Shahu Chhatrapati, NCP’s Baramati MP Supriya Sule and MLA Anil Deshmukh. A statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was placed at Hutatma Chowk, while those involved in the protest march were holding placards condemning the incident of the statue falling and raising slogans against the Eknath Shinde government. NCP chief Sharad Pawar also participated in the protest march for some distance, after which he left in his vehicle. The march ended at the Gateway of India, which is located a few kilometres from Hutatma Chowk.
Public discontent against the Mahayuti government
Raut’s statement has come at a time when the opposition’s resentment and anger against the Mahayuti government in Maharashtra is increasing. There is also resentment among the public over the alleged corruption in the statue of Shivaji Maharaj, due to which Uddhav Sena has announced this movement against the government. Raut further said that this movement is against the corrupt policies of the government and it is expected to get widespread support across Maharashtra.
The first arrest in the case was made on Friday
The first arrest was made on Friday in the case of the collapse of the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Sindhudurg district. Structural consultant Chetan Patil from Kolhapur has been arrested in this case. The Kolhapur Crime Branch arrested Chetan Patil in the Sindhudurg case early Friday morning and later the accused was handed over to the Malvan police.
Earlier, contractor and architect Jaydeep Apte and structural consultant Chetan Patil were named as accused in the FIR. Both have been accused in the FIR of negligence and potentially causing harm to people around the statue.
When was the statue unveiled?
The statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Sindhudurg was unveiled on December 4, 2023, when the Navy Day celebrations were held in Sindhudurg for the first time. The statue was intended to honor the legacy of the Maratha Navy and the contribution of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to maritime defense and security.
This project was conceptualised and led by the Indian Navy in collaboration with the state government. The government also provided funds for this project. After the statue fell, both the state and central governments are under criticism.
PM Modi and CM Shinde apologized
PM Narendra Modi and Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde have also apologized on this issue. During his Maharashtra tour, PM Modi expressed regret and apologized for the fall of Shivaji Maharaj’s statue in a program organized in Palghar. Similarly, CM Eknath Shinde also said that if needed, he would not hesitate to touch Shivaji Maharaj’s feet 100 times and apologize.
Opposition parties are extremely angry over the fall of the statue
There is a lot of resentment among the public and opposition parties over the allegations of corruption against the Mahayuti government and the incident of the fall of Shivaji Maharaj’s statue. Shiv Sena (UBT) under the leadership of Sanjay Raut has called for a massive movement against the government on this issue. There is tremendous enthusiasm among the public and party workers regarding this.
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