‘Bow my head in apology’: PM Modi on Shivaji statue collapse
Calling Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj his “deity”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday apologised to the revered 17th century warrior king and all those who were offended by the collapse of his statue at Sindhudurg’s Rajkot Fort.
The collapse of the 35-foot statue, unveiled by PM Modi just eight months ago, came as an embarrassment to the ruling Mahayuti government, with Assembly elections just around the corner.
Speaking at an event in Palghar, PM Modi said, “Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is not just a name or a king. For us, he is our deity. Today, I bow my head at his feet and apologise to my deity.”
PM Modi’s apology comes amid an outrage in Maharashtra over the incident as Shivaji Maharaj is a revered figure and his legacy is a sensitive issue in the state.
“Our values are different. For us, nothing is bigger than our deity… The moment I landed here, I first apologised to Shivaji Maharaj over the statue collapse. I also apologise to the people who were hurt by the collapse,” the Prime Minister said as the government attempts at damage control ahead of assembly polls.
Taking a swipe at the opposition, which has been trying to corner the coalition government over the issue, PM Modi said, “Some people keep abusing Veer Savarkar but are not ready to apologise for insulting him.”