New Delhi, March 25 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Thursday said Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan was the "nation's pride" and had every right to be the chief guest at the inauguration of a sea-link in Mumbai.

The BJP's support for the actor, who is brand ambassador for the party-ruled Gujarat, follows a controversy over Bachchan's being chief guest at the inauguration of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link extension Wednesday.

The Congress that rules Maharashtra was not happy with Bachchan attending the prestigious event. But the BJP batted for the actor who is out of favour with the Gandhi family.

"The Bandra-Worli sea-link is a national property and certainly not a property of the Congress. Every Indian has a right to be there. Undoubtedly, Amitabh Bachchan is the nation's pride and a distinguished Mumbaikar who has full credentials to be the chief guest there," BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said.

Rudy slammed the Congress for generating a controversy over invitation to Bachchan.

There was resentment among a section of the Congress in Mumbai over the invite to Bachchan. Chief Minister Ashok Chavan of the Congress inaugurated the sea link.

Ashok Chavan, who was surprised to see Bachchan at the event, insisted he was "not aware" of the invite to him.

The row has also caused a dent in Maharashtra's ruling Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) alliance.