Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah unveiled an equestrian statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Gandhinagar built by Maharashtra Samaj Gandhinagar. The nearly 21-foot statue was presented as a source of civic pride and an inspiration for the youth. Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi and other dignitaries attended.

Shah said Shivaji Maharaj took a pledge at the Raireshwar Temple in Raigad at age 16 to establish Hindavi Swaraj and to uphold swaraj, swadharma and swabhasha. He noted that this resolve arose when much of the subcontinent was under prolonged foreign domination and self-rule had been largely forgotten. Within 40 years Shivaji built forces that ended two centuries of subjugation and led to his coronation as Chhatrapati.

Shah emphasised that Shivaji protected pilgrimage sites and temples, re-consecrating and restoring places such as the Saptakoteshwar Temple. He linked that heritage to recent projects including the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor and the Somnath Temple which have been restored to repair historical damage. The minister suggested these efforts signify a national embrace of Shivaji Maharaj's legacy.

The minister highlighted that Shivaji Maharaj established a naval force and advanced the idea that control of the sea secured strategic advantage. Shah said the government had honoured that tradition by removing colonial symbols from the flag of the Indian Navy. He also referred to scholarly remarks at Shivaji's coronation and suggested the nation's current standing reflects those early predictions.

Shah recalled that poets and leaders across generations composed works praising Shivaji Maharaj and that his story continues to instil bravery and public service in children. He highlighted that Shivaji promoted Marathi and Sanskrit in administration and encouraged a culture committed to swaraj, swabhasha and swadharma. The minister observed that within 100 years the saffron banner linked to his legacy was seen across the region and beyond internationally.