On board the Coast Guard’s hovercraft, the Prime Minister performed ‘jal pujan’ around the proposed site of the memorial, located around 2 kilometres off the coast of Mumbai. Billed as the world’s tallest statue at 192 metres, the ambitious project is expected to cost around Rs 3,600 crore.

Addressing a gathering in Bandra’s MMRDA grounds, Modi praised Shivaji, while taking a dig at those who have been critical of his efforts to clean up black cash. Reiterating his old stand, the PM also added that the honest will reap the benefits of the cash ban, while the dishonest will face greater hardships.

Earlier in the day, PM Modi inaugurated a newly-built campus of the National Institute of Securities Management in Raigad district. Addressing a gathering at the campus, PM Modi declared that his BJP government would not dither over tough economic measures.