In Kolhapur, Maharashtra, a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj fell recently, causing a lot of controversy. The police in Sindhudurg have arrested structural consultant and contractor Chetan Patil in connection with this incident. The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which includes Congress, Sharad Pawar’s faction, and Uddhav Thackeray’s faction, is making this an issue and criticizing the central government. Amidst the uproar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Palghar and publicly apologized for the fallen statue. He also mentioned Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, adding a new twist to the situation.

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Modi’s Public Apology and Political Remarks:
Addressing a gathering in Palghar, PM Modi said, “What happened in Sindhudurg recently is very unfortunate. For me and my friends, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is not just a name. He is not just a king; he is worshipped by us. Today, I bow my head to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and seek forgiveness.”

He further added, “We have different values. We are not the ones who insult our great sons of the soil, like Veer Savarkar. Some people in Maharashtra are disrespecting Savarkar and are not willing to apologize, but they are ready to fight in court.”

The Statue Incident:
On August 26, the 35-foot statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj fell, leading to an FIR being registered at Sindhudurg police station. The name of sculptor Jaydeep Apte from Thane was also included in the case.

Modi’s Role in Unveiling the Statue:
The statue was unveiled by PM Narendra Modi on December 4, last year, during the Navy Day celebrations. The purpose of the statue was to honor Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s legacy and the historical connections between the Maratha Navy and the modern Indian Navy.

Apologies from Maharashtra Leaders:
Before Modi’s visit, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar had also apologized for the incident.

Savarkar and Bharat Ratna:
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, also known as Veer Savarkar, was never a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) or the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). However, he is respected within the Sangh Parivar. In the year 2000, the then Atal Bihari Vajpayee government proposed to award Savarkar the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honor, to the then President K.R. Narayanan. However, this proposal was not accepted.