NEW DELHI. May 4: An Indian parliamentary panel has urged the government to deploy a short-range missile which has been reportedly inducted into the Indian army despite US warnings, newspapers said today, reports AFP.

A multi-party committee of MPs attached to the Defence Ministry said in a report Introduced in parliament on Wednesday that the government should not hesitate to deploy the Prilhvi missile, a nuclear capable weapon.

"The committee .... recommended that the Indigenously developed missile be inducted, and deployed, the Indian Express newspaper said, citing reports that Pakistan had moved nuclear capable missiles along the border with India

As defence preparedness is the first priority of any government. it has become im-

perative that the government takes a quick decision on the induction and deployment of ... Prithvt." the committee said.

An Indian newspaper reported last month that the mobile surface to surface Prtthi’l. which has a maximum range of 250 kilometres (156 miles) had already beer, Inducted into the Indian army despite US objections.

But the report added that llie government, apparently liecause of US pressure, was dragging its feet on regular production of the Prithvt

The report by the 43 member parliamentary panel also urged the Defence Ministry to discuss the steady annual fall in defence budget with the Finance Ministry.

Preliminary trials of the Prilhvi missile were completed last year.