‘May Differ With BJP But...’: Govt Raps Opposition For Skipping Shubhanshu Shukla Discussion

Last Updated:August 18, 2025, 16:16 IST

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 in honour of IAF Group Commander and astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, who recently returned from a mission to the Space Station (ISS).

The session was adjourned after repeated protests by Opposition MPs over matters, including the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar and concerns about the Election Commission. The Lok Sabha will now reconvene on 19 August 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.

“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.

News politics ‘May Differ With BJP But...’: Govt Raps Opposition For Skipping Shubhanshu Shukla Discussion

Read More