Criticism Follows Chhatrapati Shivaji Statue Collapse

The collapse of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue in Sindhudurg has sparked significant political backlash against the ruling Mahayuti government in Maharashtra. Former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan blamed the incident on undue pressure from the administration to complete the statue quickly for a planned inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In response, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) organized protests in Mumbai, with leaders accusing the government of corruption and demanding accountability. Prime Minister Modi publicly apologized for the collapse, but Congress leaders criticized the apology as insufficient and called for resignations of those responsible. Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has faced accusations from Congress of spreading misinformation regarding the statue's construction. The incident has intensified scrutiny of the government's handling of public monuments and its accountability mechanisms.