A Sampath (CPM) urged the government not to go ahead

with the disinvestment of BEML, saying the Kerala government has allocated large tract of land for the PSU and Rs 1 lakh crore of public money has been invested.

He said none of the stalwarts like Vikram Sarabhai and Homi Bhabha, who worked tirelessly for the nation, represented private sector.

Sampath said the government should focus on manufacturing of defence equipment within the country and not depend on imports. "India should not become dumpyard of global defence market," he said.

He also demanded that similar facilities should be given to personnel of para-military forces.

Hariom Singh Rathore (BJP) said India's security apparatus should be "China-focussed" and efforts should be made to produce defence equipment within the country.

Gopal Shetty (BJP) raised the issue of construction of residential area near defence establishment in Mumbai and asked the new Defence Minister Arun Jaitley to sort out the issue as funds of many home-buyers are locked for many years.

BJP member and former Home Secretary R K Singh said building of capability of the armed forces is an article of faith for this government.

He said money will never be a constraint for building defence capability and the government has always provided more funds and would continue to do so.

The government has undertaken comprehensive modernisation of the army and the navy, he said, adding the government has revamped defence procurement policy.

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)