A 35-foot iron statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, unveiled by the Modi government on December 4 last year at Malvan Fort in Maharashtra, collapsed after nine months. The incident has ignited a political controversy, with opposition parties accusing the state government of corruption and neglecting quality standards.
Former minister Jitendra Patil blamed the state government for inadequate maintenance, stating it was responsible for the statue's collapse. Opposition members alleged that substandard materials were used in the statue's construction, linking it to potential corruption.
The statue's construction and installation reportedly involved the expenditure of millions of rupees. Indian media sources claim that the Maharashtra government's practice of issuing new tenders, accepting commissions, and awarding contracts accordingly is promoting corruption.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Vaibhav Naik also criticized the state government for the alleged poor quality of work.
The incident has raised questions about the quality of public works and the allocation of funds in Maharashtra, with opposition parties calling for accountability and transparency in government projects.
