Multi-nation Naval Exercise on Schedule: Navy Chief

New Delhi, Aug 23 (UNI) Even though the Left parties have decided to stage protests in major eastern coastal towns against the upcoming five-nation 'Malabar' naval exercise, the Government today said the planned manoeuvres in the Bay of Bengal will be held as per schedule.

''It (Malabar Exercise) is on,'' Navy Chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta said of the exercise slated to commence from September four.

In all, 24 warships from India, the United States, Singapore, Australia and Japan are taking part in the naval exercise. The warships include the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz and a nuclear-powered submarine of the US.

Adm Mehta pointed out that the Indian Armed forces were ''completely apolitical'' and worked in the national interest.

Asked about the Left opposition to the defence exercise with the US, he said it was in the interest of national security that the Indian Navy engages navies of different countries across the world.

''The Indian Navy stands to benefit a lot from the exercises that we conduct with various navies, including the US navy.

''It is quite an experience if you have 40 different types of aircraft operating in an environment... Ships to go... Get battle ready. I don't think we can have such an environment with other countries,'' Adm Mehta said.

He said the Indian Navy had conducted similar exercises with the navies of Britain, France, Russia, Sri Lanka and China.

''We've worked with the Chinese Navy in March this year... We did some work basically in search and rescue aspects, the common thing we do to start with such exercises... And from there onwards, we graduate to major exercises....'' Adm Mehta said the 'Malabar' exercise was ''nothing new'' for the Indian Navy as it has done similar exercises in the past too.

''Now we have the 13th 'Malabar' exercise - starting from 1995.

There was a gap in between for two-three years and over the years we have graduated into complexities....'' Earlier, inaugurating an international seminar on Marine Archeology, the Navy Chief favoured careful study of wrecks found on the sea-bed for determining an accurate picture of India's history.

The seminar was also addressed by Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India Anshu Vaish and participated in by delegates from across the country and abroad.

UNI