Daily pill of Defence - 23 March 2008

India successfully test fires Agni-1 missile
Deccan Herald, Balasore (Orissa), PTI

India on Sunday successfully test-fired its nuclear-capable surface-to-surface Agni-1 missile from the Wheelers' Island, a defence base in the Bay of Bengal on Orissa coast. It was the second user's trial of the sophisticated missile. (read more)

From Taslima to Tibet, India proves chicken
Jug Suraiya, ToI

nstead of the peacock, India should adopt the chicken as its national bird. Apart from the fowl being the dish of choice, at least in the northern part of the country, our official response to various situations - ranging from the Taslima Nasreen controversy to the protests in Tibet - can best be described as chicken-hearted. (read more)

Pranab to meet Bush, Rice on N-deal
India Today, IANS Report

Amid continuing uncertainty about the fate of the India-US nuclear deal, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee goes to Washington Sunday on a two-day visit that will focus on India's pact with the IAEA and the next steps necessary to conclude the deal. (read more)

Centre allocates Rs 500 crore for naxal-hit areas in 11th Plan
India Today, PTI Report

Concerned over growing Left wing extremism in various states, the Centre has decided to allocate Rs 500 crore during the 11th Plan for development of infrastructure in naxal-hit areas. (read more)

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As an aside, Prabhu Chawla had this absolutely hilarious reply to a reader's question:

Q. How come the Bengali Communists are all quiet about the unrest in Tibet?

Prabhu Answers: Because they did better than China in Nandigram and they are shocked how the Chinese could go soft in dealing with dissent.