Defence matters should not be politicised: MoS Defence

Gurgaon, Aug 11 (UNI) Dismissing the Left parties' opposition to the forthcoming multinational 'Malabar-07'naval exercise in the Bay of Bengal, the Government today said the defence matters should not be ''politicised.'' ''Such matters are best left to experts,'' Minister of State for Defence Production Rao Inderjit Singh said, noting that the views of Left parties or any political opposition has not been factored into the decision making of the defence forces.

''The defence forces of this country are non-political,'' he asserted.

Twenty warships, including three aircraft carriers from five countries -- US, Japan, Australia and Singapore and hosts India -- will assemble in the Bay of Bengal next month for the exercise.

The Left parties have said they would hold rallies along the entire Eastern coast to register their opposition. Two major 'jathas' (processions), led by CPI(M) chief Prakash Karat and CPI leader A B Bardhan will set off from Chennai and Kolkata on September 4, and culminate in Vizag five days later to coincide with the naval exercise.

UNI