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Union Minister Jitendra Singh slammed the Opposition for failing to rise above politics to acknowledge India’s space achievements
Union Minister Jitendra Singh speaks in the Lok Sabha during the Monsoon session of Parliament, (PTI photo)
The government on Monday hit out at the Opposition for disrupting Parliament proceedings, even as the Lok Sabha was set to hold a special discussion honouring IAF Group Commander and astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, who recently returned from a mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
The session was adjourned after repeated protests by Opposition MPs over issues including the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar and concerns about the Election Commission. The Lok Sabha will now reconvene on Tuesday at 11:00 AM.
Leading the discussion, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Jitendra Singh, criticised the Opposition for failing to rise above politics to acknowledge India’s space achievements.
“The opposition has failed to congratulate the space experts and scientists for our space achievements,” Singh said in Parliament. “Your anger can be with the government. Your anger can be with the BJP and the NDA. But it is surprising that you can be angry with an astronaut”
Shukla, who returned to India on Sunday after completing NASA’s Axiom-4 mission, is the first Indian in 41 years to go to space. The government had planned to formally honour his achievement through a dedicated discussion in the House.
“Commander Shukla, apart from being an astronaut, is also a disciplined soldier of the Indian Air Force. He does not belong to any political party,” Singh said amid ongoing sloganeering.
“You are angry with the earth, you are angry with the sky and today you seem to be angry with space as well,” he added.
Singh also pointed to the wider success of India’s space programme, including the role of space technology in Operation Sindoor. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership since 2014 for giving the sector a new direction.
“I have a belief that the role of the Department of Space and space technology during Operation Sindoor, the technology that was adopted, has also happened in the last 10 years, after the Modi government came to power,” Singh noted.
The Union Minister further asked: “Why did our Space Department remain isolated for 60-70 years, and why did it work at a slow pace?”
“When that question is answered, then we will understand that on 26 May 2014, the day Modi ji took charge as Prime Minister, a new chapter began, and this journey of space gained momentum and strength,” he added.
He also questioned why space development remained slow under previous governments
“Our country never lacked on scientists, there was capability, willingness, dreams and hopes in their hearts and eyes, willingness to work, but the deficiency was in harmony, which is defined through policy. If there was any lacking, then it was with political dispensation, that lacking was finished in 2014,” he said.
Rijiju Urges Opposition To Cooperate
Meanwhile, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju also criticised the Opposition, particularly the Congress, for walking out of the session during the planned tribute.
“It is very unfortunate that the Congress Party and the Opposition did not give us an opportunity to express our gratitude to Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla,” Rijiju said. “Tomorrow again, there will be a discussion on the journey of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force and ISRO mission pilot to the International Space Station (ISS) and his subsequent return.”
“I urge the Congress Party and the Opposition to cooperate. Just as we all express our gratitude to the armed forces for the success of Operation Sindoor, in the same way, we should come together to express our gratitude to the scientists and Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla,” he added.
Shukla was part of NASA’s Axiom-4 Space Mission, which launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on 25 June. He returned to Earth on 15 July, splashing down off the coast of California. He became the first Indian in 41 years to travel to space.
(With inputs from agencies)
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The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More
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