Mumbai: The Eknath Shinde-led government in Maharashtra has deployed heavy security measures ahead of a major protest announced by the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition. The protest is in response to the collapse of a 35-foot statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji at Malvan in Sindhudurg. Meanwhile, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has questioned the necessity of the protest and has organized its own counter-march.
To maintain law and order, a significant number of police personnel have been stationed at the Gateway of India, which has been temporarily closed to tourists.
The protest by the Opposition's INDIA bloc in Maharashtra will see prominent leaders, including Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, NCP (SP) supremo Sharad Pawar, and state Congress president Nana Patole, participating. The rally will start from Hutatma Chowk in the Fort area and proceed to the Gateway of India.
The Opposition bloc has named its demonstration the "jode maro" protest, which translates to "hit with footwear." The Shiv Sena (UBT) has called on the people to join the march to "awaken the pride of Maharashtra" and to bow at Shivaji's feet. The Sharad Pawar-led faction of the NCP has criticized the "corrupt Shivdrohis" (traitors of Shivaji), while the Congress state unit has stated that the protest aims to "teach a lesson to the Shivdrohis" responsible for poor workmanship, corruption, and disrespecting Shivaji.
The collapse of the Shivaji statue, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi just eight months ago, has triggered a significant political controversy in Maharashtra. The statue's project was managed by the Navy in coordination with the state government. Following the incident, police arrested the structural consultant and the contractor involved in the project, charging them with attempted murder, culpable homicide, and actions endangering life and safety.
Amidst the backlash, Prime Minister Modi has issued a public apology for the statue's collapse. "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 apologize to my deity. I also apologize to the people hurt by the collapse," he said.
BJP Questions Opposition's Motives
The ruling BJP has dismissed the Opposition's protest as a politically motivated move, allegedly aimed at gaining leverage ahead of the upcoming state elections. State BJP spokesperson Keshav Upadhye criticized the MVA's intentions, describing their concern for Shivaji as superficial.
"Is the PM's apology not enough? Rahul Gandhi had also apologized for his comments on the Rafale episode. Will they (MVA) stage a similar protest for these apologies?" Upadhye questioned.
BJP's counter agitation
Upadhya further stated that the BJP's youth wing would organize agitations near statues of Shivaji Maharaj across Maharashtra to "expose" the Opposition. Upadhye also accused previous Congress-led governments of failing to preserve Shivaji's forts.
In Mumbai, the BJP plans to hold a counter-agitation in Dadar, led by city party chief Ashish Shelar, to counter the INDIA bloc's rally.
As tensions escalate, the competing protests in Mumbai highlight the growing political divide in Maharashtra. Both sides are using the collapse of the Shivaji statue as a rallying point to mobilize support and set the tone for the upcoming state elections.
No comments:
Post a Comment