Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue toppling: Two booked, unanswered questions and attacks on Maharayut ahead of polls

After Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's statue collapsed in Rajkot Fort, Malvan police filed a first information report (FIR), naming the company owner responsible for its maintenance Jaideep Apte and structural consultant Chetan Patil. The arrests are expected soon.

The FIR was filed based on a complaint filed by the Assistant Engineer of the Public Works Division, Malwan, under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, 2023, including Sections 109, 110, 125, 318 and 3 (5) Prevention of Damage to Public Property, 1984 Law”.

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According to the state government, the maintenance and upkeep of the statue is the responsibility of the Navy. The Navy contracted with Apte's Messrs Artistry, while Patil acted as structural consultant.

Collapse within 8 months of taking office

The 35-foot-tall statue was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 4, 2023, during Navy Day celebrations. However, the collapse within eight months raised concerns about the quality of the construction.

Reports indicate that the statue began to rust days before it collapsed. After the Public Works Department (PWD) took notice of the situation, it immediately informed the Navy in writing. However, despite warnings, not enough measures were taken.

The opposition criticized the state and central governments for their negligence.

Not involving statues: Patil

Patil denies all charges. He clarified in an interview with local news outlets that he was not responsible for the statue's entire structural design.

“I was only involved in the design of the base of the statue,” Patil said, further explaining that the actual construction of the statue was being carried out by a Thane-based company. “I was not involved in the statue itself,” he said.

Despite News18's repeated attempts to speak to the statue's sculptor, Apte, he remained unavailable.

war of words

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said the statue was made by the Indian Navy and they had just completed the design. “When I spoke to the collector, he said the statue was damaged due to strong winds of 44 to 50 kilometers per hour. We will erect the statue there again.

Congress leader and former Mos Home Satej Patil told News18: “The toppling of the statue of Marwan Chhatrapati Maharaj has both practical and symbolic significance. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj holds a lofty place in Indian history and any monument to his memory should be constructed with the utmost care and respect. The government's handling of the incident has raised questions about project management. , transparency and respect for historical figures and national institutions. We strongly oppose the Mahayutth government's attempt to save face by slandering the Indian Navy. This approach shows not only a lack of responsibility for a major failure, but also a lack of commitment to long-term efforts. Disrespect for institutions that are pillars of national security and pride.

Satej added, “The Navy has distinguished itself through numerous successful programmes, including INS Vikrant, INS Kattabomman, INS Kadamba, etc. These achievements have cemented the Navy's reputation as the benchmark for engineering excellence across industries. In fact, the Indian Armed Forces as a whole has It is respected nationally for the exemplary quality of service it provides in all aspects of operations.

unanswered questions

The incident sparked widespread anger and debate about the responsibility and quality of public projects.

Some questions remain unanswered:

• What role does the Navy play in construction, supervision, or contractor selection?
• Who is responsible for vetting and selecting contractors?
• What criteria were used in this selection process, especially given reports that the contractor had limited experience with large monuments?
• How was a project of this magnitude completed in just six months when industry standards suggested much longer time frames?
• Are appropriate quality control measures implemented?
• Were all necessary regulatory steps followed during construction?

Poll cost?

The issue could spell trouble for Mahayut's government, which faces difficulties in resolving the Maratha reservation issue and has seen its repercussions in the recently held Lok Sabha elections.

The toppling of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharashtra Ji's statue ahead of the assembly elections has created quite a stir among the people of Maharashtra, especially the Maratha community.