A fighter plane in flight as part of the India-U.S. air exercises at Kalaikunda in West Bengal on Monday. _ PHOTOS: SUSHANTA PATRONOBISH

KOLKATA: As jets belonging to the United States Air Force and the Indian Air Force (IAF) thundered overhead, supporters of Left parties who had congregated at a site adjoining the IAF base at Kalaikunda in the West Midnapore district waved black flags and shouted slogans on Monday protesting the joint air exercises, COPE India 05, which got underway there in the morning. The exercises will continue till November 19.

A large contingent of policemen had cordoned off the airbase as part of an elaborate security arrangement made in consultation with the IAF in the face of threats of demonstrations by activists of the Left Front. Barricades were erected a short distance away from the barbed wires hemming the airbase whose perimeters were guarded within by sniffer-dogs and security personnel of the IAF.

Demonstrations organised by the Left were also held in different parts of the State. Left Front Chairman Biman Bose addressed a gathering near the airport here. Demonstrations were held two days ago on the arrival of U.S. aircraft carrying pilots and engineers. State Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) Anil Biswas spoke at a protest rally near the American Center.

Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee reiterated the Left's opposition to such joint exercises. ``We are opposed to any strategic alliance with the U.S. Government. If at all there is need for such an alliance it should be with Russia and China," he said.

The exercises reflected a shift from India's non-aligned foreign policy and amounted to violating the guidelines regarding international relations laid down in the United Progressive Alliance Government's Common Minimum Programme, Mr. Bose said.

That the Centre was playing into the hands of the U.S. Government was evident in its decision apparently taken under pressure (from the U.S.) to relieve Mr. Natwar Singh of the External Affairs Ministry portfolio in connection with his alleged involvement in the Iraqi oil kickbacks, Mr. Biswas said.

CPI (M) supporters protesting against the exercises. _ PHOTOS: SUSHANTA PATRONOBISH

``The first day's exercises went off as scheduled; there were no hitches or disruptions," a Defence spokesman said. The sorties by the aircraft of the two air forces, which began in the morning were carried on in phases till late afternoon.

Nearly 250 personnel of the U.S. Air Force and 400 belonging to the IAF are participating in the exercises. Colonel Nelson Cabbot of the 35th Operational Group of the U.S. Air Force was the overall coordination officer of the aircraft formation.

F-16 jets of the U.S. Air Force and SU-30s, Mirage 2000s and MIG 27s of the IAF were among a total of 19 aircraft that participated at the start of the joint exercises in the morning, an IAF official said.

In keeping with earlier assurances the demonstrations were peaceful.

Central paramilitary forces were on stand-by and nearly 1000 personnel of the State Armed Police were deployed around the air-base as part of the security measures taken, according to Superintendent of Police, West Midnapore, Ajoy Nand.

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