New Delhi, March 27: Minutes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced India’s entry to a select group of space powers that can shoot down live satellites in low earth orbit, a political slugfest on the issue ensued.
The opposition Congress claimed that the anti-satellite system mission was initiated by the UPA under the leadership of then PM Manmohan Singh.
The first reaction from the Congress came from veteran Ahmed Patel, the former political secretary to then Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
He said on Twitter, “The UPA government had initiated the ASAT programme which has reached fruition today. I congratulate our space scientists and the visionary leadership of Dr Manmohan Singh.”
Patel also tagged a 2012 media report quoting then DRDO chief VK Saraswat as saying that after successfully testing the Agni V missile India was now ready to launch the deadly anti-satellite systems in double quick time.
“Agni V has opened a new era. Apart from adding a new dimension to our strategic defence it has ushered in new opportunities like building ASAT systems and launching mini and micro satellites on demand,” Saraswat had said at the time after the DRDO tested the 5,000 km Agni V missile.
The PM earlier said India is only the fourth country (apart from the US, Russia and China) to acquire such a specialised and modern capability. “Entire effort is indigenous. India stands tall as a space power! It will make India stronger, even more secure and will further peace and harmony.”
The opposition leaders were quick to target the PM for making the announcement with SP chief Akhilesh Yadav tweeting, “Today @narendramodi got himself an hour of free TV & divert nation’s attention away from issues on ground — #Unemployment #RuralCrisis & #WomensSecurity — by pointing at the sky. Congratulations @drdo_india & @isro — this success belongs to you. Thank you for making India safer.”
Former ISRO chief G Madhavan Nair, when contacted, defended the PM’s decision to make what he described as a “historic space achievement for India”.
“It was only natural for the PM to make this major announcement on India crossing a significant threshold in space technology. It’s a huge feat,” Nair said.
There was no immediate official word from the Election Commission though EC sources said the PM had not violated the Model Code of Conduct because he did not make any policy announcement.
“The announcement related to India acquiring deterrence in space. It was a matter of national security and safety for which the PM did not need the EC permission for an address,” a Commission source said.
