Top News

‘Angry With Earth, Sky, Space’: Jitendra Singh Jibes At Oppn For Skipping Discussion On Shukla
ABP Live News | August 18, 2025 6:11 PM CST

A heated debate unfolded in Parliament on Monday as Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Jitendra Singh, criticised Opposition parties for allegedly failing to acknowledge India’s recent space achievements, including the International Space Station (ISS) mission of astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla.

Singh said it was “surprising” that the Opposition could not bring itself to applaud the nation’s scientific successes, instead choosing to vent political anger.

Opening the special discussion in the House on Shukla’s return to India after his ISS mission, the Minister accused the Opposition of misdirecting its frustration with the BJP and NDA.

“The opposition has failed to congratulate the space experts and scientists for our space achievements. 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. And that astronaut who, apart from being an astronaut, is also a disciplined soldier of the Indian Air Force. He does not belong to any political party,” Singh told Parliament amid protests and 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.

Jitendra Singh On Operation Sindoor and PM Modi’s Leadership

Singh highlighted India’s use of space technology during Operation Sindoor, crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership for giving the sector momentum over the past decade.

“Just some time ago, through Operation Sindoor, India’s capability was shown, from the earth to the sky, the whole world recognised India. During Operation Sindoor too, the role of Space technology was also shown 10 years after Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power,” the Minister said.

He also questioned why progress in the space sector had stalled for decades, stressing that scientific talent was never in short supply but political will and policy harmony were lacking.

“If there was any lacking, then it was with political dispensation, that lacking was finished in 2014,” Singh remarked, asserting that a “new chapter” for India’s space sector began when Narendra Modi first took office.

Shashi Tharoor Congratulates Astronaut Shukla

Earlier in the day, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor took the floor to congratulate Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, calling his ISS mission an important milestone for India’s human spaceflight ambitions.

“Since the Opposition are not participating in the special discussion, let me say how proud all Indians are of the recent mission of Commander Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station (ISS). It served as a stepping stone to our nation’s own human spaceflight program, Gaganyaan,” Tharoor said.

Shukla, who participated in NASA’s Axiom-4 (AX-4) mission, launched from Florida’s Kennedy Space Centre on June 25 and returned on July 15 with a splashdown off the California coast. He arrived in New Delhi early Sunday, becoming the first Indian in 41 years to travel to space.

READ NEXT
Cancel OK