Defence experts praise Gujral's stand on Prithvi

Indian defence experts have applauded Prime Minister I K Gujral's bold stand on Prithvi missiles.

''The sum and substance of the prime minister's categoric and firm denial -- ''We don't see any danger.... There is no imminent threat.... We don't deploy in abstract'' -- is that India will do all, including the deployment of Prithvi, if necessary, to safeguard its independence and brook no pressure whatsoever from any quarter. If Prithvi was not deployed it is because the prevailing security environment did not warrant it,'' said the New Delhi-based experts.

Gujral made this statement on Wednesday at the Lohegaon fighter airbase near Pune to mark the induction of the Russian-built Sukhoi-30 warplane into the Indian Air Force. The experts said the prime minister chose the right occasion to ''send the message across''.

Justifying the stand that the missiles could be deployed if the need arose, the experts said, ''Otherwise, what purpose would they serve? Where is the need to be hypocritical about it?'' the security experts said.

UNI

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