Nagpur: Following the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) protest over Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's statue collapse incident, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday accused Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray of doing politics in the name of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj while emulating the deeds of "Aurangzeb and Afzal Khan."
"Two years ago, the people of Maharashtra told Uddhav Thackeray to get out. He was thrown out of power and sent home. He is doing politics in the name of Shivaji Maharaj and doing the work of Aurangzeb and Afzal Khan. He came to power in the name of Shivaji Maharaj with the BJP and formed the government with others," CM Shinde told reporters in Nagpur.
The Maharashtra Chief Minister called it "sad" and said that the opposition is doing politics on the Shivaji Maharaj issue.
"This is a very sad thing for us...Shivaji Maharaj cannot be a political issue for us; this is a matter of identity and faith for us. The incident that happened was unfortunate. Doing politics on it is more sad thing, and the opposition is doing politics on this. Two JCBs were brought to break the statue of Shivaji Maharaj in Karnataka, and that statue was uprooted, those who did this should be beaten. Instead of doing this, they (MVA) are protesting here, but the people of Maharashtra are wise, they are seeing this. In the coming elections, the people of Maharashtra will beat them with shoes," Shinde said.
Earlier today, Uddhav Thackeray said that Maharashtra's soul has been insulted and the people will never forget those who insulted Chhatrapati Shivaji.
Addressing the protest rally, Thackeray also targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that wherever he lays his hand, truth gets destroyed.
"There is no excuse for this mistake. Shivaji Maharaj and Gateway of India is the gateway of our country. This anti-Shiva government is sitting in an unconstitutional manner. The Prime Minister of the country came four days ago. He apologized. Even while apologizing, he did not have anything on his face," he said.
"Did you apologize for putting up the Maharaja's statue to cover up the corruption? This is Modi's guarantee, wherever he lays his hands, truth will be destroyed. Maharashtra's soul has been insulted, Maharashtra's religion has been insulted. Maharashtra will never forgive those who insult Shivaji," he added.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he bowed his head and apologised to the people of Maharashtra who were hurt by the collapse of the Shivaji statue at Sindhudurg.
While addressing a gathering at Malvan in Maharashtra's Palghar district on Friday, the Prime Minister also criticised the opposition for not being apologetic as he extended his apologies for the incident.
A 35-foot-tall statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Sindhudurg district collapsed on August 26. It had been unveiled on December 4 last year as part of Navy Day celebrations, which were held in Sindhudurg for the first time.
—ANI