Date:05/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/05/stories/2006120503601000.htm

National

Increase defence allocation: Swamy

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy has demanded an increase in the budget defence allocation from 2.5 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to 6 per cent, the present level of expenditure in China and Pakistan.

Dr. Swamy, in a statement here on Monday, said that while in foreign policy the country should foster friendly relations with China, in defence policy it had to take into account the capacity of China and other neighbouring countries.

The naval reach should be developed to the level of force deployment whereby we could monitor and police the Malacca Straits in cooperation with Indonesia, the statement added.