Mumbai: The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) on Sunday has taken out a ‘jode maro’ protest in the city over the collapse of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue in Sindhudurg district days ago.
NCP (SP) leader Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, party leaders Aaditya Thackeray and Sanjay Raut along with other leaders have joined the "hit with footwear" protest.
The Eknath Shinde government deployed huge posse of police personnel as the march began from Hutatma Chowk in the Fort area to Gateway of India alongside the monument has been closed for tourists, citing law and order.
Questioning the protest, the BJP will reportedly take out a march of its own to counter the Opposition’s charges.
The Opposition bloc called upon people to join the march, with the Shiv Sena (UBT) saying on X that it would be bowing at Shivaji's feet to ‘awaken the pride of Maharashtra’.
Sharad Pawar faction of NCP declared there was no forgiveness to the "corrupt Shivdrohis", while the Congress said that the march would teach a lesson to "Shivdrohis".
The collapse of the 35-foot statue, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi just 8 months ago, triggered a controversy in the state with the Opposition weaponizing the incident.
The structural consultant and the contractor of the project were arrested and charged with ‘attempt to murder, culpable homicide and act endangering life and safety of others’, according to NDTV.
Alongside apologising to the people for the fall of the statue, Prime Minister Modi said ‘Today, I bow my head at his feet and apologise to my deity.’
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis criticised the Opposition for politicising the issue alongside asking if the Congress would apologise for Indira Gandhi having never spoken a word about Shivaji Maharaj from Red Fort.