New Delhi:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took down Congress chief Rahul Gandhi for his ‘World Theatre Day’ wishes after Mission Shakti announcement. Addressing a massive rally in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut, PM Modi said, “When I spoke about A-SAT, some confused it with theatre sets. These are the people who are always busy in drama.”
“For me India is before anything else. The opposition ignored our achievement in space (missile test). I suspect their intelligence,” PM Modi said even as the Opposition complained to the Election Commission over the ‘Mission Shakti’ timing.
On Wednesday, in one single tweet, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi not only congratulated the DRDO for ‘Mission Shakti’ but also took a sharp swipe at PM Modi. Without saying much, Gandhi deftly drove home the point that the timing of space mission announcement was just a drama.
“Well done DRDO, extremely proud of your work. I would also like to wish the PM a very happy World Theatre Day,” Gandhi said on the micro-blogging site. Prior to this, the Congress had also said that while the Indian scientists must be hailed for the stellar work, but the nation must not forget India’s first Prime Minister.
“We congratulate @isro @DRDO_India & the Govt on the latest achievement for India. The Indian Space Programme established in 1962 by Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru & the Indian Space Research Organisation set up under Smt. Indira Gandhi has always made India proud through its achievements,” the Congress said on Twitter.
PM Modi's announcement of India's anti-satellite missile capability on Wednesday was "limitless drama and publicity mongering", amounting to "gross violation" of the model code of conduct, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Wednesday.
The PM made the announcement ahead of the Lok Sabha polls to "reap political benefits", Banerjee, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief, said. "There is no great urgency in conducting and announcing the mission now by a government past its expiry date. It seems a desperate oxygen to save the imminent sinking of the BJP boat. We are lodging a complaint with the Election Commission," she said.
Addressing the nation on the demonstration of India's anti-satellite missile capability, the prime minister said India had joined an exclusive club of space super powers by shooting down a live satellite, describing it as a rare achievement.
