India wheels out new long-range missile in annual parade

INDIA: India wheeled out a new long-range nuclear missile as it celebrated its Republic Day with a big parade Saturday.

India successfully tested last April the Agni V missile, which has a range of 5,000 kilometres (3,100 miles) and can strike across the Chinese mainland and even hit targets as far away as Europe.

The first appearance in the annual parade of the Agni V -- seen as marking a significant upgrade of India's nuclear deterrent -- came along with the display of other military hardware acquired as part of a massive modernisation drive costing tens of billions of dollars.

The parade along New Delhi's ceremonial Rajpath, or King's Avenue, also included floats marking India's rich diversity and a tableau marking 100 years of Indian cinema wrapped in reels of film and embossed with movie names.

Large areas of the capital were sealed off for the celebrations -- a traditional show of patriotic fervour -- where Bhutan's king Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck was the chief guest.

On the eve of Republic Day, marking proclamation of India's constitution, President Pranab Mukherjee told Pakistan in his annual nationwide televised address that New Delhi's hand of friendship should “not be taken for granted”.

“We believe in peace on the border and are always ready to offer a hand in the hope of friendship... but this hand should not be taken for granted,” he said.

In his speech, president Mukherjee also said it was time for India to “reset its moral compass” following the gang-rape and murder of a student last month that ignited nationwide demonstrations to press for better safety for women.

The death of the 23-year-old woman, “who was a symbol of all that new India strives to be”, had shattered the nation's complacency, he said. “We lost more than a valuable life -- we lost a dream” and “we must look deep into our conscience and find out where we have faltered”, he said.

AFP