Maharashtra Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar said while it was sad that the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Sindhudurg had collapsed, it was now an opportunity to erect a bigger statue. The statue, constructed by the Indian Navy and unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year, collapsed on Monday evening.

Speaking to press persons, Kesarkar said, “This is an accident. This statue was erected by the Navy. It was Navy Day, the Prime Minister was due to come here, so the statue was erected quickly and everyone was praising it.” Kesarkar said it was an opportunity to erect a 100-foot-high statue to replace the 35-foot-high statue that had collapsed.

“If a similar very large statue is built here, it will be an attraction for the whole of India. Tourists come to Malvan, so if it is considered and built like the Statue of Liberty, it will be a tribute to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj,” Kesarkar said. The minister added that he would discuss this with the chief minister and deputy chief ministers and prepare cost estimates for the reconstruction of the statue.

A 35-foot-high statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj collapsed at Rajkot fort in Malvanon on Monday around 1 pm. The Maharashtra Police have reportedly registered a case against the builders.

Meanwhile, the Indian Navy has constituted a team to investigate the collapse of the statue. The 35-foot-tall statue was erected by the Navy and unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Navy Day celebrations on December 4 last year.

“The Indian Navy notes with deep concern the damage caused this morning to the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, which was unveiled on Navy Day on December 4, 2023 as a dedication to the people of Sindhudurg. The Navy, along with the state government and concerned specialists, has dispatched a team to immediately investigate the cause of this unfortunate accident and initiate steps for repair, restoration and re-installation of the statue at the earliest,” the Navy said in a statement.

The opposition demanded an inquiry into the incident. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray said in a social media post that the state would never tolerate any insult to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. “The BJP is so arrogant that we will do anything and get away with it. Due to this arrogance, Maharaj’s memorial was constructed in a hurry without considering the seriousness of the matter. The intention was to use only the Maharaja’s image, so the quality of the memorial was not considered. I have not even heard what the locals have said,” Thackeray said.