Rahul Gandhi Unveils Shivaji's Statue In Kolhapur, BJP Protests

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi faced a protest by BJP workers when he reached Kolhapur to unveil Shivaji Maharaj's statue.

Kolhapur (Maharashtra):Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday slammed the BJP government over the collapse of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue at Rajkot fort in Sindhudurg.

Gandhi unveiled a statue of Shivaji Maharaj in Kasba Bawda in Kolhapur district and said, "If you erect a statue, do so with good intention but you (read PM Modi) erected the statue with wrong ideology and that's why the statue collapsed,"

Gandhi also said that it is no use bowing before the warrior king after destroying the Constitution and other institutions of the country.

Earlier Prime Minister Narendra Modi had apologised after Shivaji's statue, which he had unveiled last year, collapsed on August 26. PM Modi had said that Shivaji Maharaj is not just a name but a deity and had sought his apology before the deity.

Meanwhile, after Gandhi reached Kolhapur airport this morning he faced a strong opposition from BJP workers, who tried to show black flags to him but were stopped resulting in a clash with police.

BJP workers were protesting against Gandhi's remarks about reservation in US. After arriving in Kolhapur, Gandhi visited the house of a worker in Unchagaon.

On the other hand, BJP workers gathered outside his office in Nagala Park to protest and later left for Tararani Chowk.

Police stopped the BJP workers at the gate resulting in a scuffle between them. The protestors crashed the gate and ran towards the main road but were again stopped by police. After which, BJP workers started protesting on the streets. They also raised slogans against Gandhi.

The protest continued for around half an hour after which, senior BJP leaders called the district president and asked them to suspend the protest.

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