The Communist Party of India-Marxist on Thursday defended the inclusion of 'tainted' ministers in the United Progressive Alliance government saying keeping the Bharatiya Janata Party 'out of power' was more important.

"Let the people who are in the government decide on its formation and on who will be part of it and who will be ministers. We want a secular government," party politbureau member Sitaram Yechuri told reporters in Delhi when asked about the inclusion of 'tainted' persons in the Congress-led coalition, which the Left party supports from outside.

When pointed out that the then home minister Indrajit Gupta had expressed reservation about Mohammed Taslimuddin joining the Deve Gowda government as Minister of State for Home, he said, "It is not an issue for Left parties because we want to keep the BJP out of government."

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Meanwhile, Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies Mohammed Taslimuddin said, "These BJP people have no issues. They themselves are guilty of demolishing the (Babri) mosque. They have no other work left and are now engaged in making such allegations."