CM Shinde says unveiling Shivaji Maharaj's statue in J&K's Kupwara is 'matter of pride'

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde/ File Photo

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that it is a matter of pride that the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj will be unveiled in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district today, stated a report in ANI. CM Shinde will be inaugurating the statue today, it further added.

The report stated that Maharashtra Cultural Affairs Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar will be in attendance of the event along with Jammu and Kashmir's LG Manoj Sinha. They are the chief guests of the event.

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Reportedly, the equestrian statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj has been installed at 41 National Rifle (Maratha LI) near the Indo-Pakistan border in the Kupwara district.

Eknath Shinde, on Monday, told ANI that, "It is a proud thing for the country that a magnificent equestrian statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj will unveiled near the India-Pakistan border (in the Kupwara district of Jammu & Kashmir) on November 7. I am very obliged to get a chance to be part of this event."

CM Shinde on Monday also called on Jammu and Kashmir's Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, the report added and further stated that he met him in Raj Bhavan in Mumbai. Reportedly, Maharashtra minister for Forest, Cultural Affairs and Fisheries, Sudhir Mungantiwar was also present in the meeting.

The statue of Shivaji Maharaj was guided to Kupwara with a ceremony; it was sent off with the beating of drums, and chants of 'Jai Bhavani, Jai Shivaji'. Governor Ramesh Bais, CM Shinde and Mungantiwar showed the green flag.

The statue reached Kupwara from Maharashtra after a week and it converted a distance of 2,200 km, the report stated. The statue was welcomed at various historical places of worship in important cities along the route, it added.

The foundation stone of the statue was laid in the army camp on Padwa this year, the report stated and added that to create the foundation stone, soil and water from five forts of the Maratha emperor were brought, The five forts are Shivneri, Torna, Rajgad, Pratapgad and Raigad.

The statue, which is 10 and a half feet tall has been built in collaboration with the 'Aamhi Punekar Foundation' and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Smarak Samiti, stated the report.