Parties should not politicise security matters: Chaturvedi

Political parties should not politicise matters related to security of the nation and procurement of arms for defence forces, outgoing Rajya Sabha member and Congress leader Satyavrat Chaturvedi said today.

Delivering his farewell speech, the leader also asked political parties to make way for the younger generation.

"We can do politics on many issues. There is no dearth of issues. This is democarcy and no two voices could be same. But I want to request that please do not politicise matters related to security of the nation and matters related to procurement of arms," Chaturvedi said.

After Bofors, the Army is still looking for one decent cannon, he added.

"There cannot be a bigger thing than security of the nation. We will find many issues for debate but keep matters related to procurement of arms for our Army, Navy and Air Force above politics," said Chaturvedi, who hails from Madhya Pradesh.

He also asked members to speak clearly on various matters.

"In the last few decades I have felt that the will to speak clearly is going down across political parties, this is matter of concern...I would like to request all political parties not to lose this valuable thing," he added.

Thanking Sonia Gandhi for her support, Chaturvedi said he had decided to retire from active politics after turning 65.

"I had decided that I will only be active in politics till the age of 65 after that I won't take and not even ask for any position. That is what I have done. We should make way for the new generation..its my personal view, I can't force it on others..that's what I have done," he said.

Born in 1950, Chaturvedi was first elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2006. He was re-elected to the upper house in 2012.