Keep politics and development separate: Antony

Defence Minister A K Antony today said it was important to keep developmental agenda separate from political differences.

Palakkad: Defence Minister A K Antony today
said it was important to keep developmental agenda separate
from political differences.

"The development agenda should not be changed in
accordance with change of governments," Antony told reporters
on the sidelines of a function here.

He said it was important for all parties to ensure that
political differences do not come in the way of economic and
industrial development, especially in a state like Kerala.

Cooperation between the UPA at the Centre and LDF
government in Kerala, despite differences, had resulted in
greater flow of central investment to the state. "If the same
level of cooperation is maintained, the state will benefit
more," Antony said after presiding over the inauguration of
manufacturing complex of Defence Public Sector Undertaking
BEML.

Earlier, Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan inaugurated the
first phase of the unit which is the fourth manufacturing
complex and eighth manufacturing plant of BEML.

Achuthanandan said the government would expedite steps
for acquisition of 600 acres of land for the second phase of
the complex.

The new complex will cater to the needs of defence,
mining and construction, rail and metro rail.

BEML CMD V R S Natarajan said the company commanded 70
per cent of the domestic market in earth moving equipment and
had overseas market in 55 countries, with international
offices in Brazil, Indonesia, Malysia and China.

The company had set a corporate goal of Rs 5,000 crore
turnover by 2014, he said.

State Industries Minister Elamaram Kareem and Opposition
Leader in the state assembly, Oommen Chandy were also present
on the occasion.

PTI

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