‘Shivaji’s statue size reduced on purpose by BJP’

Mumbai: Continuing its tirade against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Shiv Sena on Monday reiterated the Nationalist Congress Party’s (NCP) stand that the height of Chhatrapati Shivaji’s statue has been reduced to ensure Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s statue in Gujarat remains the tallest. This a sign of BJP’s narrow and distorted mindset, the party said.

NCP state unit chief Jayant Patil has claimed the height of the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji has been reduced to ensure Sardar Patel’s statue remains the tallest.

Supporting him, the Shiv Sena in its mouthpiece Saamana said that certain incidents are proving Mr Patil’s claims right. “Doubts are now being raised if there was an internal conspiracy to ensure construction of Patel’s statue is completed first and make Shivaji’s statue seem like a dwarf compared to it. Chhatrapati Shivaji’s statue should be larger than that of any other leader and all parties should come together for it,” the Sena said.

Taunting chief minister Devendra Fadnavis not to get “scared” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah, Sena said that he should fearlessly announce that the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji would be the tallest in the world. “Mr Fadnavis should use the same courage that he exhibited for reservation to the Maratha community and fearlessly annou-nce that Shivaji’s statue would be the tallest in the world and not get scared of Mr Shah and Mr Modi. This will also not lessen the prestige of Sardar Patel,” said the party.

The Sena reminded that Chintamanrao Deshmu-kh had shown the courage to tender his resignation as the Union finance minister to then-Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to ensure Mumbai stays with Maharashtra.

Patel’s Statue of Unity has already been unveiled and has been made open to the public, but not a single break has been laid for the construction of Shivaji’s statue, said Sena.