BJP youth wing protests against GVK

Mumbai, Apr 1 (UNI) Activists of BJP's youth wing today protested here against GVK, the company behind the makeover of airports in the metropolis, for placing company's boards that are bigger than those bearing the name of the international airport.

The Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport has been under renovation and modernisation by the GVK company and the BJP activists have alleged that the company has insulted the Maratha king by placing boards that bear the airport's name in a very much smaller size as compared to the boards bearing the company's name.

General secretary of Mumbai BJP's youth wing, Niranjan Shetty said ''GVK should have respected Shivaji and constructed the board with his and the airport's name in a much bigger size than the company's name or at least of equal size.'' The activists, numbering close to 100, blankened a few boards that were erected in the airport premises before they were arrested by the local police and later released on bail.

Mr Shetty said that they will be writing to the company officials, asking them to replace the boards or face bigger agitations and protests.

The modernisation of the airport is already in a controversy, with the company wanting to remove the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and replace it in a different location. It may be recalled that the statue was inaugurated by Shiv Sena Supremo Bal Thackeray and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

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