BJP urges Prithviraj Chavan to rethink auctionioning off of INS Vikrant as scrap

The state BJP today appealed the Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan to rethink his stand on INS Vikrant, which is set to be auctioned off as scrap.

"Chavan should withdraw his resolve to sell the ship in scrap. He should understand people's sentiments associated with Vikrant," BJP leader Kirit Somaiya said here.

He said in December 2001, the then Defence Minister George Fernandes had stated that Maharashtra government had shown interest in preserving Vikrant as a maritime museum, but the state failed to go ahead with the proposal.

Somaiya said he had discussions with senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on the issue.

"We have decided that a delegation of BJP leaders will meet President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the issue," he said.

First the state government "usurped" the Adarsh Housing Society meant for the kin of the Kargil war heroes and now it wants to sell off Vikrant, which played a significant role in the 1971 war against Pakistan, he quipped.