Followers of Shivaji Maharaj gather near the bust of the Maratha warrior king at Ekta-Nagar in Mapusa.
MAPUSA
Followers of Shivaji Maharaj (Shiv Premi) have warned that the bust of Maratha warrior king Shivaji Maharaj, which was installed overnight at Ekta-Nagar in Mapusa will not be removed under any circumstances.
They assured to try their best to legalise that bust and appealed to the police not to interfere in the matter.
“Police should not harass the Shiv Premi who have installed the statue. We will fulfil all procedures to have the bust legalised. At present, some unseen forces are trying to remove the statue by putting pressure on the police. We will not tolerate this,” said a Shiv Premi Prashant Walke.
Another Shiv Premi Jayesh Thali said there are structures of other religions in Ekta-Nagar and despite complaints, no action has been taken to date.
“But only we are being targeted,” said Thali.
Abhay Samant, another Shiv Premi, said there had been no complaint so far and there was no need for the police to get involved.
Meanwhile, Mapusa police have been patrolling the area around the clock to ensure law and order in the area.
A group of Shiv Premi visited the Mapusa Police Inspector Paresh Naik on Wednesday evening.
PI Naik made it clear that permission is needed to legalise the bust and said there should be no untoward incident in the area.
The sudden and overnight construction of a pedestal and installation of the bust of Shivaji Maharaj was done in one go in the wee hours of Tuesday. The installation was done in an open space which was demarcated for beautification by the Mapusa Municipal Council.
Incidentally, the Maratha warrior king has been given the pride of place in the town whose statue on the horseback has been installed near the Hutatma Chowk, Mapusa.
