Sharad Pawar pats Gadkari for remark on collapse of Shivaji statue

In what may spiral into yet another controversy involving Nitin Gadkari, top Opposition leader Sharad Pawar on Wednesday welcomed the Transport Minister’s observation on the collapse of the Chhatrapati Shivaji’s statue at Rajkot Fort in Maharashtra.

Gadkari, who many believe has the potential to replace PM Narendra Modi, recently created a flutter when he urged Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to withdraw GST on premiums paid for life and medical insurances.

Now, while addressing an event in Delhi, Gadkari on Tuesday said if stainless steel had been used for the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji, it would have never collapsed. NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar endorsed the minister’s comments.