Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday said the under-construction Bandra-Versova sealink in the western part of Mumbai will be named after Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar. Shinde also said that the state-level gallantry awards on the lines of the Centre will also be named after Savarkar. In his address in New Delhi on the birth anniversary of Savarkar, Shinde said some people were deliberately defaming Savarkar for their own selfish interests. He said such people fear that if Savarkar's ideas become popular in the society, they will have to shut their shop.

Shinde said this is the first time that Savarkar's birth anniversary is being celebrated at the Maharashtra Sadan built by the state government there. "Savarkar's critics know that if his ideas become popular in the society, he will have to shut his shop. Imagine how scared they are that even after 57 years of Savarkar's death, they are still opposing him."

Born on May 28, 1883, in Nashik district, Savarkar died on February 26, 1966. "The under-construction Bandra-Versova sealink will be named after Swatantryaveer Savarkar. On the lines of the Central government's bravery awards, the Maharashtra government will also institute the Swatantryaveer Savarkar Bravery Awards."

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