‘A pretense’: Oppn on PM Modi’s apology over Shivaji statue collapse in Maharashtra | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: As Prime Minister Modi apologised for the collapse of Shivaji statue in Maharashtra, the opposition called the gesture just a pretense and claimed that he was forced to apologise due to the strong protest by the people of Maharashtra.
“The strong protest from the people of Maharashtra and the opposition today forced Narendra Modi to apologise to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. But this is not an apology, it is a pretense,” Congress said on X.
“Maharashtra will neither forget nor forgive this insult to Raje,” it added.

The opposition also doubled down on its demand for the removal of CM Eknath Shinde and deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis of Maharashtra from their constitutional responsibilities.
“If Modi is really apologising for this unpardonable sin, then he should remove the CM and deputy CM of Maharashtra from their posts,” the Congress said.
Shiv Sena (UBT) also reacted strongly saying the apology is not enough.
Party spokesperson Anand Dubey said, “If any corruption is found regarding his statue, his statue is desecrated, then an apology will not suffice, your CM and deputy CM should resign, minister Kesarkar should be suspended, because the question is not just about statue, the question is about our pride.”
The opposition demanded that a strong action be taken in this regard.
The apology from the Prime Minister came after constant attacks and repeated demands for apology by opposition parties over the collapse of the Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue in Sindhudurg on August 26.

“Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is not just a name for us. Today I bow my head and apologise to my god Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj,” PM Modi said at an event in Maharashtra’s Palghar.
PM Modi said that he understood the pain of the devotees of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and felt sorry for the statue collapse.
“Those who consider Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as their deity and have been deeply hurt, I bow my head and apologise to them. Our values are different. For us, nothing is bigger than our deity”, he added.
The Mahayuti government in state has came under fire not only by the opposition members but also from within its own fold. NCP’s Ajit Pawar, second deputy chief minister to Shinde, and his party cadres across the state have all condemned the statue collapse.
Chief minister Eknath Shinde recently said he would not hesitate to touch the feet of warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj 100 times and apologise for the collapse if required.
The 35-foot statue of Maratha empire founder Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year at a fort in Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district. Eknath Shinde blamed the strong winds to be the reason behind the collapse.