APD | India conducts anti-satellite missile test amid election buzz

By APD writer Rishika Chauhan

NEW DELHI, March 28 (APD) - On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India has added to its space power and become the fourth country, after the US, China and Russia, to possess the capability to destroy a low-orbit satellite.

India tested its anti-satellite missile by taking down one of its satellites in the low earth orbit within three minutes of launch. The operation was called Mission Shakti.

The announcement comes two weeks before the first phase of Lok Sabha elections and has acquired political undertone.

After the announcement, the Congress party through Twitter congratulated the scientists at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) as well as the government. 

However, the Congress gave the credit of setting ISRO, the space research organisation responsible for conducting the test to the late Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

“We congratulate ISRO and the government on the latest achievement for India. The Indian Space Programme established in 1961 by Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru and the Indian Space Research Organisation set up under Smt. Indira Gandhi has always made India proud with its ground-breaking achievements,” the Congress tweeted.

Rahul Gandhi, Congress party president congratulated the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) for the test.

He took the opportunity to make a jibe at his political rival, the current prime minister, Narendra Modi, wishing him “a very happy World Theatre Day”.

He tweeted, “Well done DRDO, extremely proud of your work. I would also like to wish the PM a very happy World Theatre Day.”

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)