Prime Minister Narendra Modi publicly apologized on Friday for the recent collapse of the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue at Rajkot Fort in Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district. Addressing a gathering in Palghar, Modi expressed his deep reverence for the Maratha emperor, stating that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is “not just a king” but a revered deity for him and his colleagues.
“For me, my colleagues, and everyone, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is not just a king. He is highly revered and worshipped. For us, he is our aaradhya dev (revered deity),” Modi said during his address.
महाराष्ट्राच्या भूमीवर येताक्षणीच मी आज सर्वप्रथम माझे आराध्य दैवत छत्रपती शिवाजी महाराजांच्या चरणी मस्तक झुकवून क्षमा मागितली. गेल्या काही दिवसात सिंधुदुर्गात जे झाले त्यासाठी मी त्यांची देखील क्षमा मागतो जे छत्रपती शिवाजी महाराजांचे पूजन करतात. pic.twitter.com/mlhBdZDoPs
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 30, 2024
He added, “I also extend my apologies to all those who worship Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as their revered deity. I know their sentiments are hurt.”
The statue, which stood 35 feet tall, was inaugurated by PM Modi on Navy Day, December 4, 2023. However, it collapsed on August 26, 2024, causing significant embarrassment for the state government and sparking a political controversy in Maharashtra, which is currently in the midst of election preparations.
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Reflecting on his personal connection to Shivaji Maharaj, Modi recalled his visit to Raigad Fort in 2013 when he was first projected as the BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate. “My sanskar (culture) is entirely different. The first thing I did was visit Raigad Fort. I bowed before Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s statue and sought his blessings,” he said, reinforcing his respect and admiration for the Maratha leader.
The collapse of the statue has led to a heated exchange between the ruling and opposition parties in Maharashtra. Initially, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde attributed the incident to heavy winds along the seashore. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis further distanced the state government from the incident by stating that the statue was constructed by the Navy, not the state government.
However, as the public outcry grew and dissatisfaction with the initial responses became evident, Chief Minister Shinde later softened his stance. “I would not mind apologizing a thousand times for the incident,” he stated, acknowledging the gravity of the situation.
PM Modi’s apology and heartfelt words were seen as an attempt to calm the rising tensions and reassure the public of his deep respect for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, a figure of immense cultural and historical significance in Maharashtra.
