Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, on Monday criticised the Opposition parties for skipping a special parliamentary discussion on India’s recent space achievements, calling it “surprising” that they failed to even congratulate the country’s astronaut and scientists.
The discussion centred on the return of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian in 41 years to travel to space, after completing his mission aboard NASA’s Axiom-4 (AX-4) expedition to the International Space Station (ISS).
Amid opposition sloganeering in the House, Singh said: “Your anger can be with the government. Your anger can be with the BJP and NDA. But it is surprising that you are angry with an astronaut, who is also a disciplined soldier of the Indian Air Force and not affiliated with any political party.”
Accusing the Opposition of politicising even national pride, Singh added: “You are angry with the earth, you are angry with the sky, and today you seem to be angry with space as well.”
Highlighting India’s growing space capabilities, Singh recalled the role of space technology in Operation Sindoor, crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership for giving fresh momentum to the space sector after 2014. He questioned why, despite having talent and resources, India’s space programme moved at a slow pace under previous governments.
“India never lacked scientists or capability. The problem was not talent but policy. That deficiency in harmony and vision was resolved when Modi ji took charge in 2014,” Singh said.
Meanwhile, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor distanced himself from the boycott, praising Shukla’s achievement. “All Indians are proud of Commander Shubhanshu Shukla’s mission to the ISS. It marks a vital step towards India’s human spaceflight program, Gaganyaan,” he said.
Shukla, who lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on June 25, returned to Earth on July 15, splashing down off the coast of California before arriving in Delhi on Sunday. His mission marks a historic milestone, making him the first Indian astronaut since Rakesh Sharma in 1984 to travel to space.