Gujral denies deploying Prithvi missiles

India on Wednesday stoutly denied having deployed the Prithvi missile in any part of the country.

The denial came from Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral at a function to mark the induction of the Russian-built Sukhoi-30 MK-11 into the Indian Air Force at the Pune air base.

Referring to reports from Washington, the prime minister asserted, ''It is no secret that India has the capability and has manufactured Prithvi missiles indigenously. But we have not deployed the missiles as reported misleadingly.''

Gujral said the government is committed to equip the armed forces despite constraints of resources. ''At the same time we are keen to give a message that India has no design whatsoever to attack any country. We want South Asia to be a region of peace. We have given enough proof in this regard,'' he said.

The Su-30s, the prime minister said, is the best choice of the country's defence planners. Its sophisticated version, being developed jointly by India and Russia, would give ''an added impetus to our own light combat aircraft and other indigenous projects''.

UNI

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