Inauguration of Bengaluru flyover named after Savarkar put on hold

The inauguration of the 400-metre-long flyover at Yelahanka in Bengaluru has been put on hold due to coronavirus pandemic. Earlier, on Wednesday a controversy erupted after the government decided to name the flyover after the freedom fighter and Hindutva ideologue Veer Savarkar.

Bengaluru (Karnataka): Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has postponed the inauguration of the flyover at Yelahanka in Bengaluru, which was scheduled on Thursday, due to covid-19 pandemic.

On Wednesday a controversy erupted after the government decided to name the 400-metre-long flyover after the freedom fighter and Hindutva ideologue Savarkar.

According to the sources, the newly built Yelahanka bridge was named after Savarkar last year in a BBMP council meeting. Later it was sent to state government for approval.

The opposition also alleged that the date was finalised considering the birth anniversary of Savarkar. The leader of opposition termed the move as an insult to the freedom fighters from Karnataka's soil.

The former chief minister and Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) leader HD Kumaraswamy took to twitter and said, "There are several eminent personalities/freedom fighters from Karnataka then why the Yeddyurappa-led government has decided to name the flyover after Savarkar. Have other states named things after freedom fighters from the state?"