Terming the launch of the shorter range Agni missile as part of "several steps" taken to bolster the security of the country, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Friday said the development of the Agni missile system is an ongoing programme. "For the nation's security and protection, we are taking several steps and Agni is one among them," Vajpayee said at his residence soon after Agni was tested. Vajpayee, who was speaking after reviewing the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Gujarat, hit by an earthquake last year, congratulated the defence scientists for the feat.

He said the decision to test Agni missile system in various configurations had been taken earlier and was an onging and not a new project. He said the launch date of the missile system had been fixed earlier and all concerned organisations had been informed. Bureau Report