Mission Shakti: Opposition leaders congratulate DRDO, take a dig at PM Modi in same breath

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday addressed the nation where he announced that India had demonstrated anti-satellite missile capability by shooting down a live satellite, describing it as a rare achievement that puts the country in an exclusive club of space super powers. "In the journey of every nation there are moments that bring utmost pride and have a historic impact on generations to come. One such moment is today," he said in an unprecedented broadcast to the nation on television, radio and social media.

Soon after the announcement, opposition leaders across the party took to twitter and congratulated DRDO and ISRO scientists for successfully conducting the test. They however, took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking the credit.

Well done DRDO, extremely proud of your work.

I would also like to wish the PM a very happy World Theatre Day.

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 27, 2019

Congress president Rahul Gandhi in his sarcastic tweet wished PM Modi on ‘World Treaters Day’. “Well done DRDO, extremely proud of your work. I would also like to wish the PM a very happy World Theatre Day,” he tweeted.

Today’s announcement is yet another limitless drama and publicity mongering by Modi desperately trying to reap political benefits at the time of election. This is a gross violation of Model Code of Conduct. 3/4

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) March 27, 2019

Research, space management & development are a continuous process over the years. Modi, as usual, likes to take the credit for everything. Credit to those who really deserve it, our scientists & researchers. 2/4

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) March 27, 2019

India’s Mission Programme is world-class for many many years.
We are always proud of our scientists, @DRDO_India , other research & space organisations. 1/4

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) March 27, 2019

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee in a series of tweet congratulated DRDO scientists for the successful accomplishment of Mission Shakti but also slammed PM Modi for doing limitless drama and publicity mongering.

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.

— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) March 27, 2019

“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,” Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav tweeted.

What announcement will fit within the code of conduct guidelines of the election commission of India?

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) March 27, 2019

What announcement will fit within the code of conduct guidelines of the election commission of India?, tweets Omar Abdullah.

Congratulate scientists of #ISRO and DRDO on successfully demonstrating ability of anti-satellite weapon A-SAT, as part of #MissionShakti. The scientific feat will significantly bolster country’s security in space.

— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) March 27, 2019

Congratulate scientists of #ISRO and DRDO on successfully demonstrating ability of  anti-satellite weapon A-SAT, as part of #MissionShakti. The scientific feat will significantly bolster country’s security in space.

A proud moment for India as we enter our name as an elite space power today.⁰
Our scientists have achieved a great feat by carrying out #MissionShakti in under three minutes. Congratulating @isro and @DRDO_India for this remarkable accomplishment.

— N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) March 27, 2019

A proud moment for India as we enter our name as an elite space power today. Our scientists have achieved a great feat by carrying out #MissionShakti in under three minutes. Congratulating @isro and @DRDO_India for this remarkable accomplishment, tweets Chandrababu Naidu. 

BSP supremo Mayawati Wednesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of playing politics over India's anti-satellite missile capability.  "Congratulations to Indian defence scientists for the successful experiment of shooting down a satellite in the space. But the prime minister playing politics under its garb for electoral gains is most condemnable," she said in her tweet in Hindi.

Her remarks came a few hours after Modi announced that India had demonstrated anti-satellite missile capability by shooting down a live satellite. "The honourable election commission should definitely take cognizance of this," Mayawati said in her tweet.