Army installs Shivaji statue at Pangong lake, Ladakh councillor questions relevance | India News

NEW DELHI: Konchok Stanzin, Ladakh councilor has questioned the relevance of the statue of Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji, installed by the Indian Army on the banks of Pangong Lake.
Stanzin, a local resident, criticized the lack of local involvement in its construction and called for a shift in focus toward projects that better reflect and respect the community and nature.
“As a local resident, I must express my concerns about the Shivaji statue in Pangong. It was erected without local participation and I question its relevance to our unique environment and wildlife. Let us prioritize projects that truly reflect and respect our community and our nature,” he said. the councilor of Chushul.

The statue was unveiled on Thursday by Lieutenant General Hitesh Bhalla to commemorate “the unbreakable spirit of the Indian ruler”.
“On December 26, 2024, a majestic statue of Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was inaugurated on the banks of Pangong Tso at an altitude of 14,300 feet. The towering symbol of courage, vision and unwavering justice was inaugurated by Lieutenant General Hitesh Bhalla, SC**, SM, VSM, GOC Fire and Fury Corps and Colonel Maratha Light Infantry Event celebrates the spirit unbreakable of the. Indian ruler, whose legacy remains a source of inspiration for generations,” Fire and Fury Corps, Indian Army said in a post on X.

The unveiling of the Shivaji statue comes just weeks after India and China completed the disengagement process at the last two friction points, Demchok and Depsang, ending a nearly four-and-a-half-year border standoff.
The region has witnessed protests this year in which thousands of people, including Sonam Wangchuk, demanded greater autonomy for Ladakh. The protest was aimed at drawing attention to the damage caused by industrialization to the fragile ecology and glaciers of the Himalayan region.