Sea link: Sena-BJP for Savarkar, CPI for Angre's name

Naming the Bandra-Worli sea link after former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi has spawned a political controversy, with Opposition Sena-BJP demanding that it be named after Veer Savarkar and Communist Partyof India rooting for legendary Maratha admiral Kanhoji Angre.

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"Angre fought the British to liberate the island of Mumbai," CPI state unit secretary Prakash Reddy said.

Members of BJP's youth wing on Wednesday staged protests at the sea link, demanding that it be named after Savarkar.

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"Sena-BJP government, which conceptualised the sea link, had announced that it would be named after Savarkar. NCP chief Sharad Pawar has no right to suggest Rajiv Gandhi's name," Sena spokesperson Neelam Gorhe said.

Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray suggested 'better names' like B R Ambedkar or Hutatma Babu Genu, after whom the sea link could be named.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee has accused the Sena-BJP alliance of politicising the naming of the sea link.