New Delhi: The Left parties today urged the Centre to call off the joint Indo-US air force exercises scheduled to begin on November 7, saying the drill was a danger to the country's security.
"The deepening military collaboration with USA does not bode well for India's strategic interests and independent foreign policy," the CPI-M, CPI, RSP and Forward Bloc said in a joint statement.
The joint air exercises called Cope-India 05 will for the first time see the participation of F-16 fighters jets from the USAF squadron based in Japan and Indian air Force fighters, SU-30K, Mirage-2000, MiG-21 Bison and MiG-27s.
The Indian air Force's tanker fleet, IL-78 will also be deployed.
The parties were against the missile defence cooperation negotiations and the talks for arms purchase from the US, including F-16 fighter planes.
They pointed out that in September, US soldiers underwent training at the Jungle Warfare School at Vairengte in Mizoram.
"This has been followed by joint naval excercises off the West Coast," the statement read.
The four-party Left Front, whose support is crucial for the Congress-led government, also welcomed the call given by the West Bengal unit to hold demonstrations at the Kalaikunda Air Force base in the state during the joint air exercises called Cope-India 05.
Over one lakh Left Front cadres will participate in the protests.
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