India not to display Agni-V missilies during Republic Day parade

Agni-V, India’s intercontinental ballistic missile, will not be displayed during the Republic Day celebrations on Monday which will have US President Barack Obama as chief guest. The decision was on the suggestion of the Ministry of External Affairs, said sources. “The MEA does not want more than 200 journalists accompanying Obama to report the capability of the nuclear warhead because it will convey the message to the world that India tried to impress the US President with its rising nuclear might by parading its indigenous missile,” the sources said. [caption id=“attachment_2063517” align=“alignleft” width=“380” class=" “]  Agni missile. AP/File image[/caption] The display of Agni-V may also create the strategic perception that India is developing ICBM to emerge as a power against China, which will impact the bilateral relations between the two countries, they argued. India’s latest missile, with a range of over 5,000 kilometres, is seen as a China-centric missile. It is likely to be deployed after a few more trials only by 2017. Following the successful test of the missile by India, China had asked its neighbour not to overestimate its strength. It had further warned that India should be clear that China’s nuclear power is stronger and more reliable. The United States had also urged India to “exercise restraint” regarding its nuclear capabilities. “I just would say that we urge all nuclear-capable states to exercise restraint regarding nuclear capabilities. India has a solid non-proliferation record,” US State Department Spokesman Mark Toner had said in a press briefing after India test fired the missile in April 2012. Agni-V was not displayed in last Republic Day parade as well because of the presence of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as chief guest. Japan is extremely sensitive to the display of nuclear weapons because it is the only country which has been attacked with atom bombs. At that time, India had reasoned that the Republic Day parade is not purely a military parade, it is also a civilian parade and shows off the social and cultural aspects of India.