Pune Municipal Corporation wants statue of Konddev, but at another site

After a huge controversy and violent protests following the removal of Dadoji Konddev’s statue from the historic Lal Mahal in December last, the municipal administration has now proposed to reinstall the statue in a public place chosen by the people’s representatives.

The additional municipal commissioner sent a letter to the standing committee of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on January 7 seeking immediate directive by the committee and the general body to decide on a public spot owned by the PMC to erect
the statue.

It had claimed that the statue was removed with honour on a temporary basis. The administration has also asked for directions on issues like building a suitable pedestal for the statue. The administration has proposed an expenditure of Rs15 lakh for the purpose and the funds would be made available by diverting the budgetary provision for Bharat Itihas Samshodhak Mandal.

On December 24, the general body of the PMC had passed a resolution to remove Konddev’s statue from Lal Mahal with the support of the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party and had decided to erect a statue of Shivaji’s father, Shahaji.