Protest, Politics, and 'Putle': The Shivaji 'Storm' - Left, Right, and Centre Politics

Incursions, assaults, and invasions by expansive empires could not get Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to even budge a little. However, owing to what is alleged to be poor construction quality, the 35-foot statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Rajkot Fort in Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg collapsed on August 26 in the face of ordinary winds.

The collapse ignited a significant political controversy in the state, particularly as it coincides with the upcoming assembly elections in Maharashtra. What adds to the public outrage for the revered king is that the statue was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi just nine months prior during Navy Day celebrations.

As questions were raised regarding the construction and maintenance of the statue, the Maharashtra police arrested sculptor Jaydeep Apte and structural consultant Chetan Patil, following the collapse. Both accused face charges including negligence and attempted murder.

The opposition, particularly the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition, has accused the ruling Mahayuti government of corruption and incompetence, demanding accountability and the resignation of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. In response to the uproar, Prime Minister Modi publicly apologised, referring to Shivaji Maharaj as a revered figure and acknowledging the hurt caused by the statue’s collapse.

This incident has not only sparked protests but has also become a focal point for political attacks, with leaders like Rahul Gandhi questioning the reasons behind Modi’s apology and alleging that the contract for the statue’s construction was awarded improperly. In response, counterprotests have also been launched my the ruling Mahayuti coalition of the state.

Jargon

Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA): A political alliance in Maharashtra consisting of the Shiv Sena (UBT), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and Congress, formed to oppose the ruling coalition led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj: A revered 17th-century Maratha warrior king, known for his progressive governance and military tactics against the Mughal Empire, often regarded as a symbol of pride in Maharashtra.
Jode Maro Andolan: Translates to ‘hit with slippers movement’, a form of protest where participants symbolically strike posters or effigies with footwear to express disdain or anger towards political figures or actions.
Mahayuti: The ruling coalition in Maharashtra, primarily consisting of the BJP and factions of the Shiv Sena and NCP, being criticised by the opposition for alleged corruption and mismanagement.
Navy Day: A day celebrated in India on December 4 to recognise the achievements and contributions of the Indian Navy, during which the statue of Shivaji Maharaj was inaugurated.

Viewpoints 💭

‘Left’ Viewpoint

Ideological Differences

‘Right’ Viewpoint

The collapse of the Shivaji statue is a glaring example of corruption and mismanagement by the ruling BJP-led government, reflecting a broader trend of cronyism and favouritism in awarding contracts.
Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders have linked the incident to systemic issues such as demonetisation and anti-farmer laws, arguing that the BJP prioritises the interests of a few over the welfare of the general public.
The opposition emphasises the need for accountability and transparency, demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and questioning the merit of the contract awarded to an RSS-affiliated individual.
Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar have criticised Prime Minister Modi’s apology as insufficient and arrogant, asserting that it fails to address the root causes of the incident and the broader governance failures.
The left argues that the focus on building statues and symbolic gestures distracts from addressing pressing issues like agricultural distress and economic inequality, suggesting that true respect for Shivaji Maharaj would be better demonstrated through substantive governance improvements.

While the left views the collapse of the Shivaji statue as emblematic of the ruling government’s corruption and incompetence, the right frames it as an unfortunate incident exacerbated by natural forces, emphasising technical solutions to prevent future occurrences.
The left criticises the BJP for prioritising symbolic gestures over substantive governance, arguing that building statues distracts from addressing critical issues like agricultural distress, whereas the right sees these projects as important tributes to historical figures and part of a broader cultural nationalism agenda.
Opposition leaders demand accountability and transparency, calling for the resignation of key government officials, while the ruling party accuses them of politicising the incident for electoral gains and asserts that legal actions against those responsible demonstrate their commitment to justice.
The left emphasises systemic issues such as cronyism and favouritism in awarding contracts, linking the incident to broader governance failures like demonetisation and anti-farmer laws, whereas the right focuses on the technical aspects of the collapse and advocates for better construction materials to prevent similar incidents.
Prime Minister Modi’s apology is interpreted by the left as an admission of guilt and arrogance, failing to address the root causes of the incident, while the right views it as a sincere expression of regret and respect for Shivaji Maharaj, aimed at acknowledging the public’s emotional response.

The ruling party leaders assert that the opposition is politicising the incident for electoral gains, emphasising that the collapse was due to natural causes like heavy rains and strong winds.
Prime Minister Modi’s apology is framed as an expression of deep regret and reverence for Shivaji Maharaj, aiming to acknowledge the emotional impact on the public rather than admitting to any wrongdoing.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has highlighted the technical aspects of the collapse, advocating for the use of rust-resistant materials like stainless steel in coastal constructions to prevent such incidents in the future.
The BJP defends its actions by pointing to the arrest of the sculptor and structural consultant, emphasising that no one is above the law and that the government is committed to accountability and justice.
The right criticises the opposition for historical disrespect towards Shivaji Maharaj, arguing that their current stance is hypocritical and politically motivated, aimed at garnering votes ahead of the upcoming elections.

Prominent Voices 📣

From the ‘Left’

From the ‘Right’

Uddhav Thackeray (Former Chief Minister of Maharashtra): Expressed strong disapproval of the statue’s collapse and the government’s negligence. ¹ ²
Sharad Pawar (Chief of the Nationalist Congress Party): Corruption is the clear reason for the statue’s collapse, reflecting the shamelessness of those in power. ¹ ²
Mallikarjun Kharge (Congress President): Described the statue’s collapse as a humiliation for Maharashtra and emphasised the unity of the opposition for upcoming elections. ³ ⁴
Manoj Jarange Patil (Maratha quota activist): Both the government and the opposition should refrain from politicising the incident and focus on accountability.
Indian National Congress: Demanded an apology from Prime Minister Modi, calling the incident an insult to Shivaji Maharaj’s legacy.

Prithviraj Chavan (Former Chief Minister of Maharashtra): Highlighted the need for better infrastructure to protect such statues. ⁵ ⁶
Nana Patole (Maharashtra Congress Chief): Called for accountability regarding the incident and the resignation of Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. ¹ ²
Balasaheb Thorat (Congress Leader): Voiced concerns over the lack of safety measures for public monuments. ⁵ ⁷
Sushama Andhare (Shiv Sena (UBT) leader): Criticised the government for taking credit for the arrest, suggesting it was their responsibility to act sooner. ⁸ ⁹
Sushilkumar Shinde (Congress Leader): The collapse reflects the incompetence of the current government. ⁶ ¹⁰

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Narendra Modi (Prime Minister of India): Expressed deep regret for the statue’s collapse, emphasising Shivaji’s revered status. ¹¹ ¹²
Eknath Shinde (Chief Minister of Maharashtra): Initially attributed the collapse to heavy winds, later expressed willingness to apologise multiple times. ¹ ¹³
Devendra Fadnavis (Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra): Clarified that the statue was constructed by the Navy, not the state government. ¹² ¹⁴
Indian Navy: The Navy had provided a maintenance schedule that was not adhered to by the Maharashtra government, leading to the statue’s collapse. ¹⁵
Nitin Gadkari (Union Highways Minister): Stainless steel should have been used for the statue to prevent its collapse. ¹⁶ ¹⁷

Narayan Rane (BJP leader): Accused opposition parties of attempting to create division in the state ahead of elections. ⁸
Rajiv Mishra (Director of Maharashtra Directorate of Art): Clarified the limitations of the directorate’s authority regarding height and materials. ¹⁸
Chandrakant Bawankule (Maharashtra BJP president): The MVA is using the statue collapse for vote bank politics despite PM Modi’s apology. ¹⁹
Pravin Darekar (BJP leader): Critics of the government should remain silent now, acknowledging the police’s role in the arrest. ²⁰ ⁸