Communists want to protest Naval Exercises

Indian and US are conducting Naval exercises in the Arabian Sea called “Malabar Exercises”.  In these exercises, the navies will test their readiness and learn and derive benefits from each other.  US and India have significant convergence of interests, especially in the maintenance of maritime security in this region.

The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), however, said that it will protest against the exercises.  It will organise protests all along the west coast of the country.  The protests will be held in Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala.  People like S. Ramachandran Pillai, V.S. Achuthanandan, Pinayari Vijayan, Brinda Karat and K. Varadarajan will address the rallies.

The main feature of the exercise would involve US naval ships led by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan.  USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) is a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered supercarrier in the service of the United States Navy. It is the ninth ship of her class, and the Navy’s newest aircraft carrier.

A chance to practice against the most advance ship of her class in the world will surely help the Indian Navy improve its own readiness against a similar attack from enemy ships from China and Pakistan.