Minister Gadkari: Wont give inch of land to Navy; Go live near border

Mumbai, Jan 11: Union minister Nitin Gadkari showed his anger towards navy by publicly criticising them and asking them to go and live near the border, instead of living in a posh area like South Mumbai.

"Actually, Navy is needed at the borders from where terrorists sneak in. Why does everyone (in the Navy) want to stay in South Mumbai? They (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 again," Gadkari said.

The main reason for minister's anger is due to the Navy declining permission for building a floating jetty at Malabar Hill in south Mumbai, where a floating hotel and seaplane service are planned.

The Bombay high court had refused permission to a private company for the construction of the jetty because it did not have the no-objection certificate (NoC) from the Western Naval Command.

"What has the Navy to do with Malabar Hill?...Everyone wants to build quarters and flats on south Mumbai's prime land. We do respect you (Navy), but you should go to the Pakistan border and do patrolling," said the minister at a function where he laid the foundation stone for an international cruise terminal at Mumbai Port Trust.