The State unit of the Congress on Friday hit out at Union Minister of Shipping Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari for “insulting the Indian Navy” and demanded an apology from him.
Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said, “Mr. Gadkari should apologise for insulting the Indian Navy and officers residing in Mumbai by asking them to patrol the India-Pakistan border. We condemn these remarks.” Mr. Gadkari on Thursday had said that land would not be given to the Navy to build flats or quarters in South Mumbai.
Mr. Gadkari had said, “Actually, the Navy is needed at the borders from where terrorists sneak in. Why does everyone [in the Navy] want to stay in South Mumbai? They [the Navy] had come to me, asking for a plot [of land]. I will not give even an inch of land. Please don’t come to me with the demand again.”
Mr. Gadkari made the comments after the Navy denied permission to build a jetty, a floating hotel and start a seaplane service in South Mumbai. Demanding a probe, Mr. Sawant said he failed to understand why Mr. Gadkari was backing a floating hotel, which could pose a threat to Mumbai’s security.
Mr. Sawant said Mr. Gadkari’s comments damaged the morale of Navy officers.
