Corruption has peaked under Mahayuti govt: Pawar, Uddhav

MUMBAI: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar on Wednesday hit out at the Eknath Shinde-led government over the collapse of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s statue, alleging that corruption has peaked under the Mahayuti dispensation.

A 35-foot-tall statue of the 17th century Maratha empire founder, unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Rajkot fort in Sindhudurg on December 4 last year, collapsed on Monday afternoon.

Addressing a press conference here, along with Sharad Pawar and Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole, Thackeray said the government’s claim that the statue collapsed due to gusty winds is the “height of shamelessness”.

He said there is unease in Maharashtra over the collapse of the statue.

To protest against the government, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will take out a march from Hutatma Chowk to the Gateway of India in south Mumbai on September 1, the former chief minister said.

Thackeray said prominent leaders, including Pawar, from all MVA constituents — Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (SP) and Congress– will join the protest.