Rahul to unveil Shivaji statue in Kolhapur

In a move that is expected to give a fresh boost to the ongoing politics over Shivaji statue in election-bound Maharashtra, Congress MP and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi will unveil a statue of the legendary warrior king in Kolhapur on Friday.

The collapse of a 35-ft Shivaji statue in Sindhudurg, less than a year after it was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had attracted heavy criticism from Congress and other Opposition parties, forcing the Prime Minister to apologise to the people of Maharashtra for the mishap.

Rahul’s two-day (October 4 and 5) tour programme in Maharashtra is heavily focused on the 17th century Maratha king, who enjoys an iconic status in Maharashtra, where Assembly elections are slated to take place soon.

After reaching Kolhapur on Friday, Rahul will inaugurate Shivaji’s grand, full-length statue at Kasba Bawada in the evening, besides taking part in other engagements.

Later in the evening, Rahul will attend a special cultural programme with a performance by over 2001 artists, besides 1,000 people, who shall be present attired in costumes depicting Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, at the Kasba Bawada Pavilion grounds. The play would chronicle the contribution of Shivaji to Indian history, the stories of his valour and his conquests for the awareness of the new generations.

On October 5, Rahul will visit and pay his respects at the samadhi of the late social reformer Chhatrapati Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj (1874-1922) in Kolhapur, which has recently undergone a major revamp of around Rs 10 crore.