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India has unveiled the world's tallest statue, whose construction costs 29.9 billion rupees (£ 330 million).
The tall structure of 182 meters (600 feet) in the western state of Gujarat is a bronze-clad tribute to the leader of independence, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the "statue of unity" would constitute a major tourist attraction.
But locals say it is a waste of public money and that the funds could have been used more efficiently.
Mr Modi, who unveiled the statue at an inaugural ceremony, said that it was "a symbol of integrity and determination of India".
Air Force planes laid flowers on the statue designed by the Indian sculptor Ram V Sutar.
According to local reports, thousands of police officers have been deployed throughout the district, which has been the scene of incidents of violence and demonstrations against the effigy. Police also arrested farmers and tribal activists protesting on Tuesday.
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The statue has become a rallying point for local farmers demanding compensation for land they claim to have been acquired by the government for various projects, including the construction of the memorial.
The Gujarat government is said to have donated more than half of the funds for the statue, the remainder from the federal government or public donations.
The memorial was seen as a company project of Mr. Modi, who, like Patel, was born in Gujarat. He commissioned the statue when he was Chief Minister of State in 2010.
It is almost twice as big as the Statue of Liberty of New York. And it exceeded the height of the Buddha Temple Spring in China, which, at 128 m, was previously the highest in the world.
But it will not stay long the tallest statue in the world. The government of the western state of Maharashtra builds a memorial to the Shivaji warrior king, the Maratha, measuring 190 m tall.
Patel was the prime minister of the Interior and Deputy Prime Minister of India. He was known as "the iron man of India" after persuading the states in conflict to unite and become part of the Indian state after independence. .
During his campaign in 2013 to become Prime Minister, Mr. Modi said: "All Indians regret that Sardar Patel did not become the first Prime Minister".
In recent years, the ruling Hindu Nationalist Party Bharatiya Janata (BJP) has embraced Patel in order to claim his legacy. While congressional party politicians say Patel was a member of their party, the BJP says the freedom fighter's legacy belongs to everyone.
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Officials expect the 182-meter tall statue to attract millions of visitors annually
Officials expect the site, located some 200 km (200 km) away from Ahmedabad, the main city of Gujarat, to attract around 2.5 million visitors a year and help stimulate the city. 39, local economy.
Visitors can climb to the viewing gallery, located near the chest of the statue at a height of 153 m.
But locals, including farmers, are skeptical.
"Instead of spending money for a giant statue, the government should have used it for farmers in the district," Roxy Gagdekar of BBC Gujarati Vijendra Tadvi, a farmer who also worked on the farm, told Reuters. site of construction of the statue.
How did the highest statue of the world be made?
- The Statue of the Unit weighs about 67,000 tons and was built to withstand major earthquakes as well as strong winds.
- About 12,000 bronze panels were used outside, weighing nearly 1,850 tons
- The monument and its surroundings occupy more than 20,000 square meters, surrounded by an artificial lake of 12 square kilometers.
- More than 2,000 workers and several hundred Chinese workers contributed to the efforts
