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Sena-BJP want Savarkar's name for sea link

Last updated on: June 30, 2009 22:02 IST

Barely hours after the Bandra-Worli sea link was named 'Rajiv Gandhi Setu', the move drew criticism from Opposition Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance, which favoured it being named after Swatantrayaveer Savarkar.

"At the foundation stone ceremony of the sea link by Sena chief Bal Thackeray, it was announced that the bridge would be named after Savarkar," state BJP president Nitin Gadkari said.

"The Congress-NCP (Nationalist Congress Party) government has forgotten Savarkar," he added.

"The sea link was scheduled to be completed at a cost of Rs 420 crore when I was the PWD (Public Works Department) minister. It finally cost Rs 1,680 crore due to this government's ineptitude," Gadkari said.

BJP state general secretary Madhu Chavan said 'it is unfortunate that NCP chief Sharad Pawar, who was also born in Maharashtra like Savarkar, should propose Rajiv Gandhi's name for the sea link.'

"The sea link should be named Rajiv Gandhi Setu," Pawar said, after the bridge was inaugurated by Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday. Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan immediately announced that Pawar's proposal was accepted.