BJP Protests Erupt Across Maharashtra Over Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Statue Collapse

The Maharashtra BJP staged protests condemning the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi's politicization of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue collapse. Despite PM Modi's apology, MVA leaders accused the Union and state governments of corruption. The event has intensified political tensions ahead of the assembly polls.

The Maharashtra BJP staged protests statewide on Sunday against the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) for allegedly politicizing the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue collapse in Sindhudurg.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had unveiled the statue on December 4, 2023, but it toppled on August 26. Maharashtra BJP president Chandrakant Bawankule said PM Modi had issued an apology to the followers of the 17th-century Maratha warrior king.

Despite this apology, the MVA is accused of leveraging the incident for vote bank politics ahead of the assembly polls. In response, MVA leaders, including Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar, criticized the Union and state governments, labeling the collapse as a result of corruption.

(With inputs from agencies.)