Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday (28 May) announced that the upcoming Bandra-Versova sea link will be named after Veer Savarkar.

A state-level gallantry award on the lines of Centre's gallantry awards will also be named after Veer Savarkar.

The chief minister, while speaking in New Delhi on Savarkar's birth anniversary, accused certain individuals of deliberately maligning Savarkar for personal benefit and fear of potential losses if his ideas gain wide acceptance.

It was the first time Savarkar's birth anniversary was being celebrated in the state government-constructed Maharashtra Sadan, he added.

"The critics of Savarkar know if his thoughts become popular in society, they will have to shut shop. Imagine how terrified they are that they oppose Savarkar even after 57 years of his death," Shinde was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

"There have been deliberate and consistent attempts to malign the image of Savarkar by some for their selfish gains," he said, adding that it was unfortunate even after 57 years of his death, some people fail to understand him.

"It angers me to see some people deliberately try to malign his image," he said.

"The upcoming Bandra-Versova sealink will be named after Swatantryaveer Savarkar. On the lines of the Union government's gallantry awards, the Maharashtra government will also set up Swatantryaveer Savarkar gallantry awards," Shinde announced.

Hailing the move, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis thanked Shinde and said he had made similar request in a letter sent to the Maharashtra CM on 16 March this year.