States MVA’s Protest March on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Statue Incident Halted by Police in Mumbai, BJP Questions Motives MVA Protest in Mumbai: BJP Challenges Motives After PM Modi's Apology on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Statue Incident Harsh Sep 01, 2024 06:31 GMT The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition, which is made up of the Congress, NCP (SP), and Shiv Sena (UBT), attempted a protest march from Hutatma Chowk to the Gateway of India amid a hostile Mumbai climate. The protest was called in reaction to the recent fall of the Sindhudurg district's statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The march was stopped by Mumbai police, despite their best attempts. With assembly elections approaching, the BJP, represented by state chief spokesperson Keshav Upadhye, has publicly questioned the MVA's motivations and called the protest politically motivated. MVA’s Protest and Police Intervention #WATCH | Maharashtra: Police stop MVA workers and leaders who are holding a protest march in Mumbai from Hutatma Chowk to Gateway of India, over Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's statue collapse incident. pic.twitter.com/EuvXZ2VLLH— ANI (@ANI) September 1, 2024 This march was organised by the MVA as a protest against the Shiv Sena, BJP, and NCP. Known as a "jode maro" (hit with footwear) march, the demonstration brought attention to their outrage at the statue incident. Mumbai police responded to the scheduled protest by sending out a large number of security officers to keep the peace. As a result, the march was eventually stopped before it could get to its designated location. BJP’s Criticism of MVA’s Motives The BJP questioned the necessity of the protest, particularly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a public apology for the incident involving Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s statue. Keshav Upadhye, the BJP’s chief spokesperson, accused the MVA of using the incident for political gain. He argued that the opposition’s sudden display of affection for the Maratha empire’s founder was shallow and strategically timed ahead of the elections. Historical Apologies and Political Motivations Upadhye further challenged the MVA by recalling past incidents where Congress leaders, including Jawaharlal Nehru and Sonia Gandhi, issued apologies for various controversial remarks and actions. He questioned whether the MVA would have staged similar protests for those apologies, pointing out what he perceives as selective outrage from the opposition. Keep watching our Channel ‘DNP INDIA’. Also, please subscribe and follow us on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and TWITTER. Read More Read the Next Article