Sangli (Maharashtra): Leader of opposition Shri Rahul Gandhi on September 5, 2024, trained his guns on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the collapse of 17th-century Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj for the collapse of his statue in Malvan. The Prime Minister should clarify the reason for which he apologised for the incident, he said, wondering if the apology was tendered for allowing corruption or giving the contract to someone connected with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) who did not have the merit or some other reason. “Shivaji is probably the biggest ‘Mahapurush’ of the country. His statue fell down within days because of corruption and allotting the contract to a wrong person,” Shri Gandhi said while inaugurating a life-size statue of the late Congress leader Patangrao Kadam at his native village Palus-Kadegaon in Sangli district.

The Leader of Opposition, Shri Rahul Gandhi was addressing a public meeting at Kadegaon in Maharashtra’s Sangli district, after unveiling a statue of late Party leader Patangrao Kadam, the founder of the Bharati Vidyapeeth. The event was organised by Patangrao Kadam’s son Vishwajeet, an MLA, to mark Teachers’ Day celebrations. Shri Rahul Gandhi further speculated on the reasons behind the apology, stating, “There could be three main reasons: first, the contract was awarded to an RSS affiliate; second, corruption in the process; and third, while they built the statue, they failed to ensure it remained standing.”

He demanded that PM Modi should apologise to every Maharashtrian for the collapse of the statue, and also say sorry for demonetisation, anti-farmer bills, and GST. The 35-foot statue collapsed on August 26, which sparked a confrontation between the ruling Mahayuti and the Opposition MVA in the State, ahead of the upcoming Assembly election.

Real Sena, NCP are with Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), says Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge

Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge said that the real Shiv Sena were with the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), and appealed people to vote the opposition alliance to power in the coming assembly elections in Maharashtra.

Speaking at a public meeting after inaugurating a statue, he said - the ideologies of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Mahatma Phule and Dr B R Ambedkar still thrive in the state. Why are you forgetting this fact and allowing them (BJP) to remain in power? In the recent Lok Sabha elections, you saw which were the real Shiv Sena and NCP. The real Shiv Sena and the real NCP are with our alliance. All genuine people are with us, and all fake people are there with the BJP, which is why you should bring the MVA to power in the coming elections -said Congress President. Only then the country and the Constitution will be safe, he added.

We have done a lot, be it addressing farm-related issues or providing education to all. Tell us, what have you (BJP) done? You have not done anything except breaking and wrecking. Now elections are round the corner. Polls are there in Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir, and will be announced in Maharashtra and Jharkhand. In all these elections, we are winning. If we win Maharashtra, the entire country will win, and the Narendra Modi government will go in a short time. The BJP government in the state will go, but at the same time, Modi will also become helpless and go - Shri Mallikarjun Kharge further said.

Talking about the collapse of the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Sindhudurg district, which was inaugurated by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2023, the Congress President said, “This was not the first incident. A bridge inaugurated by him in Ahmedabad collapsed, and rainwater is leaking into the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. This shows that projects are rushed with elections in mind, and the structures do not last for even six months. Modi does all these things for votes.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh was spreading its influence by changing educational syllabi and trying to change the Constitution, he claimed, ‘We will not allow them to change the Constitution.’ Rahul Gandhi has taken a vow to safeguard it, he said.

Shri Kharge alleged that the Modi government toppled governments in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa. He alleged, telling the audience that if they did not support progressive ideology, your educational institutions, sugar mills and cooperative bodies will not survive; (Amit) Shah made himself Cooperation Minister. During demonetization, cooperative banks were used to turn black money into White.

Congress President claimed that Modi and the RSS wanted to destroy the Constitution written by Dr. Ambedkar. When Dr Ambedkar drafted the Constitution, these people (RSS) opposed it, saying it lacked the tenets of Manusmriti, and they did not accept the Constitution, the Congress President alleged.

He further accused PM Modi of using the Enforcement Directorate and other agencies to suppress the Opposition. Criticising the Eknath Shinde government ‘Ladki Bahin’ scheme under which eligible women are given Rs. 1,500 per month, Kharge Ji said, I appeal you not to compromise your self-esteem for some money from Modi. Reject the money and vote the MVA into power. We will take care of you.

Shri Rahul Gandhi further criticised Prime Minister Modi, questioning why all major contracts are awarded solely to ‘Adani and Ambani’ and accused him of running the government for the benefit of just ‘two people’. He pointed out that Mr. Modi has yet to apologise for the controversial ‘Anti-farmer laws’ that were repealed after widespread protests, and demanded apologies for demonetisation and the ‘flawed’ implementation of the GST.

He said that the Congress ideology is deeply ingrained in Maharashtra’s DNA and assured his presence during the upcoming assembly election campaign wherever necessary. He accused the BJP of neglecting Manipur, which he claimed is in a state of ‘Civil War’, alleging that the BJP has ignited the crisis in the northeastern State.

Shri Rahul Gandhi drew parallels between Congress’ ideology and the principles upheld by Shivaji Maharaj, Shahu Maharaj, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. “The battle is between Congress and their BJP ideology,” he said, accusing the BJP of attempting to dismantle the Constitution.

He praised the late Patangrao Kadam for his lifelong dedication to the Congress Party, Maharashtra, and the country, highlighting his work in education and development. Reflecting on history, Shri Rahul Gandhi said that when Indira Gandhi lost the Lok Sabha election, late Kadam supported her by organising a public meeting even at 2 A.M. He contrasted Congress’ inclusive vision with the BJP’s focus on benefiting a select few, accusing the ruling party of wanting to preserve the caste structure, undermine the Constitution, and take control of institutions like the Election Commission, educational establishments, the judiciary, and the bureaucracy. Shri Rahul Gandhi said that the only qualification needed to join these institutions under the BJP is affiliation with the RSS. “The only merit needed for joining these institutions is you should be from the RSS,” he said.

Reiterating his call for a caste census, he said it would provide a clear picture of the social strata and their share of the nation’s wealth and decision-making power. Calling the collapse of the Shivaji Maharaj statue an insult to both the State and the country, Shri Mallikarjun Kharge said that Patangrao Kadam’s statue was crafted by Ram Sutar, a renowned sculptor.

He reaffirmed MVA’s readiness to fight the upcoming assembly elections as a united front, stating that “all the real NCP and Shiv Sena leaders are with us; the fake ones are on the other side”. Earlier, Shri Sharad Pawar in his speech praised Patangrao Kadam’s contribution to education. Kadam came to Pune and founded Bharati Vidyapeeth. He was closely associated with the Rayat Shikshan Sanstha and remained committed to its ideology throughout his life. His contribution to education is immense. At the same time, he worked tirelessly to address the issues of farmers, particularly focusing on irrigation challenges in the arid region of Sangli, Shri Sharad Pawar said.

The event saw the presence of Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, Nationalist Congress Party (SP) Chief Shri Sharad Pawar, NCP State unit Chief Shri Jayant Patil, AICC in-charge of Maharashtra Shri Ramesh Chennithala, and senior Congress leaders from Maharashtra.

In the morning, former Congress President Shri Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders met with the family of the late Congress MP from Nanded, Vasantrao Chavan, to offer his condolences. He then travelled to Sangli.