As PM Modi prepares to lay the foundation stone of the massive 309 ft Shivaji Memorial in the Arabian Sea in what is projected to be a Rs 3,600 crore project, many in the country are fiercely criticising the move.
The massive expenditure to be incurred on the part of the Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP government in Maharashtra has raised many eyebrows. Though opinions remained divided, here are some of the best Twitter reactions from Tweeples across India:
Some important questions
#ShivajiMemorial will be an iconic landmark for Mumbai, but at cost of better roads, drainage, education, medical facilities, I’m not sure.
— Harsh Goenka (@hvgoenka) December 24, 2016
That #ShivajiMemorial will look awesome next to big piles of human shit we have to deal with because why build toilets?
— radhika vaz (@radvaz) December 23, 2016
A RS 3600 cr Shivaji memorial? I am a great admirer of the Maratha King but surely the money could be better spent elsewhere? Agree?
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) December 24, 2016
We could restore 300 forts in Mah instead of building this statue, pretty sure Shivaji Maharaj wud prefer that.
😊🙏🏽https://t.co/SswwitlaZp— atul kasbekar (@atulkasbekar) December 24, 2016
Some Tweeples were not afraid to be stern
KEM Hospital patients on floor w/o beds. #Marathi on road. Shelters 4 poor sold to #VimalShah. @PMOIndia Welcome to 3500 Cr #ShivajiMemorial pic.twitter.com/uAbSN325iY
— Milind Goraksha (@ieMilind) December 22, 2016
Ders so much devlpmnt needed in #Maharashtra specially in Vidharbha & @Dev_Fadnavis spendin ₹3600 cr fr Hindu Propaganda. #ShivajiMemorial
— Prathmesh Mahindre (@prathmesh_10) December 22, 2016
Do we have good books in rural schools? Are our villages have accessibility to medicine? Sad state!#mahagovernment #ShivajiMemorial
— Mandar Kulkarni (@mandar_lk) December 22, 2016
Respect heritage but don’t lose perspective. #ShivajiMemorial @Dev_Fadnavis https://t.co/JD1X5fNwJc pic.twitter.com/BQznERSrGd
— Salman Anees Soz (@SalmanSoz) October 27, 2016
I am a Shivaji Maharaj bhakt and grew up on his stories and I am sure he would have distributed 3600 crores to all farmers in the state !
— vikram sathaye (@vikramsathaye) December 24, 2016
People using Mayawati blowing money on statues to justify #ShivajiMemorial Her idiotic actions dnt need to be repeated just to prove a point
— Aseem Kshirsagar (@aseemksh) December 24, 2016
Dear Govt of MH (this one and the previous one), consider paying your govt staff (mainly teachers) before constructing a #ShivajiMemorial
— Rish (@desi_mulgi) December 23, 2016
And then of course, there were the Twitter trolls, who did what they do best
Today marks the beginning of the 2-day long saga of literally throwing Rs 3,600 Cr into the sea. #ShivajiMemorial pic.twitter.com/ni21ixgi4K
— Pallavi Prasad (@pallaviprsd) December 23, 2016
They can’t even get the spelling right ‘CHHARTRAPATI’ ? and they want to spend 3600 crs…Wow…#ShivajiMemorial pic.twitter.com/rUWtGJNNTs
— Ratin Sharma (@Ratinsharma76) December 22, 2016
After valiantly fighting in the hills and ranges, Shivaji Maharaj finds himself ‘all at sea.’ #shivajimemorial
— Rohan Kanchan (@RohanKandid) December 22, 2016
Please sign my petition to stop construction of statute of Shivaji. And please buy tickets to USA to click a selfie with Statute of Liberty.
— Eminent Intellectual (@padhalikha) December 23, 2016
But the statue also found many supporters!
Several people posted on Twitter about how it was unfair to criticise the Shivaji, Maharashtra’s greatest historical figure:
Mayavati, Jaylalitha Spend Croe money on their own statue. And we need to knw their Contributions compared to Shivray
— Amit Wankhade Patil (@Amit_I_Patil) December 24, 2016
When 3000 croe spent in Kumbh Mela no Media Raised Voice. Why Now? This bigots making fuss #ShivajiMemorial
— Amit Wankhade Patil (@Amit_I_Patil) December 24, 2016
Shivaji’s statue-why is it wasteful? It will earn its cost with in 3 years through tourism-& nobody talked abt Mayawati’s elephants.
— Col Ajit Bhinder (@ajitbhinder) December 24, 2016
Hey @Dev_Fadnavis India is a poor country we can only afford Gandhi, Nehru, and Hathi statues. Why are you building Shivaji Statue?
— भागल फेसबुकिया (@BUnlimted) December 24, 2016
We tax Payer of Maharashtra don’t have any problem about Money Spent on Memorial because Its Debt of Shivaji Maharaj on us
— Amit Wankhade Patil (@Amit_I_Patil) December 24, 2016
#ShivajiMemorial should be made as because of him I am ‘Mandar Sawant’ and not ‘Masood Sarwar’
— Mandar Sawant (@MandarSawant184) December 24, 2016
Click here to read more about the Shivaji Monument.
Feature Image Source: Reuters
