Mumbai: Senior Maharashtra Congress leader and former MP, Hussain Dalwai, criticized the state government on Tuesday regarding the recent collapse of a 35-foot statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Sindhudurg. The incident has sparked political controversy and embarrassment for the state government.

Dalwai, addressing the media, expressed frustration over the choice of location for the statue. He suggested that if the intent was to place the statue in water, it should have been done in Mumbai, where a decision was already in the works for such a project. “This is stupidity. If they wanted to build a statue in the water, they could have done it in Mumbai. Do they even have respect for Shivaji Maharaj? Problems arise wherever the Prime Minister inaugurates a statue,” he remarked.

Dalwai also drew parallels to other new constructions, criticizing them for facing issues. He mentioned the new Parliament building and the Atal Setu bridge, alleging that all new projects are encountering problems. “Wherever the PM goes, there is a problem. The PM has ruined the economy and increased unemployment in the country,” Dalwai added.

The statue’s collapse has escalated into a political issue, with Shiva Sena (UTB) leader Aaditya Thackeray criticizing the BJP over the incident. Thackeray condemned the BJP for allegedly engaging in corruption and blamed the party for poor-quality work. In a statement posted on X, Thackeray said, “It is unimaginable that the statue of our deity, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, would also be a subject of the BJP's corruption.”

Thackeray also accused the BJP of attempting to shift blame to the Indian Navy, asserting that the inauguration of the statue seemed motivated by electoral considerations rather than genuine sentiment. The statue, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Navy Day in December 2023, has become a focal point of criticism and controversy.

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