Solapur statue controversy resolved as communities agree to shift memorial

Kolhapur/Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The controversy over the installation of a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Anjangaon, in Madha taluka of Solapur, was resolved after the Maratha and Dhangar communities agreed that the place where the statue is installed is a temple.On Saturday evening, work began to lay the foundation to install the statue on govt land at Anjangaon.A clash broke out between the two communities on Wednesday evening over a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj installed near a temple. While one community insisted that the land on which the statue was installed belongs to the state public works department and, therefore, it should not be removed. The other community claimed that the land belongs to a temple trust.Late on Thursday night, the two communities agreed that a land survey should be conducted to check the ownership of the land. As state-level community leaders got involved, the administration and local politicians made efforts to find a solution. A meeting was organised on Friday night with guardian minister Jaykumar Gore, special inspector general of police (Kolhapur Range) Sunil Phulari, new district collector S Karthikeyan, superintendent of police Atul Kulkarni, former MLA of Mohol Rajan Patil and Maratha community representatives.Former MLA Rajan Patil said, "A successful solution was reached in this meeting. Since the place where the statue is installed is a temple, it has been decided that the statue will be shifted to the place preferred by the villagers and the Maratha community on Sunday. By Saturday night, the place for this will be finalised."The statue was shifted in a truck, and work to construct the foundation to erect the statue on govt land continued till Saturday evening. All politicians and activists from the Maratha and Dhangar communities who came from outside, including OBC neta Laxman Hake, returned by Saturday.Guardian minister Gore said, "The collector and SP will go around the village with the villagers and determine the place, in land group No. 815. A fund of Rs 1 crore will be given for this statue through DPDC. As per the instruction of CM Devendra Fadnavis, a consensus has been reached between both communities."Jarange: Do not install statues at places that can trigger disputes; Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj belongs to all"Statues should not be installed at places that can lead to disputes. Our king has done immense work for the world. I am unable to understand this conspiracy. Who is supplying these statues? Someone clicks photographs with me and spreads misconceptions within the Maratha community," said Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange, reacting to the controversy over the installation of a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Anjangaon village of Solapur district.Following discussions, both sides agreed that the land falls under the temple trust's domain. It was then decided to relocate the statue to a mutually agreed site, with representatives of both communities set to identify a new location. Welcoming the resolution, Jarange said respecting Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is a collective responsibility and stressed the need to uphold his ideals of unity.He also urged the police to probe the source of the statue and whether there was any deliberate attempt to incite tensions. Jarange cautioned against attempts to create divisions between the Maratha and Dhangar communities, saying it was important that the situation did not escalate.Controversy in SangliWhile the controversy over the statue in Solapur was being resolved, a statue of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj was erected overnight at Ram Mandir Chowk in Sangli city. The statue was erected under the saffron flag in front of the island at Ram Mandir Chowk by the followers of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj.On Saturday morning, police reached the spot and requested that the statue be removed from the site and installed with official permission, but the followers were not ready to listen. The Sangli Municipal Corporation planned a place at Trikoni Baug for the Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj memorial next to the old fire station in the city. However, protesters demanded that the statue of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj be installed at Ram Mandir Chowk instead. After discussions and an assurance of a meeting to be held at the Sangli Municipal Corporation soon to finalise the location, the protest was withdrawn.