The Indian government is criticizing the opposition parties for boycotting a special discussion in the Lok Sabha dedicated to honoring astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla's successful mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The government has expressed its disappointment, emphasizing that while disagreements with the ruling party are understandable, boycotting an event celebrating a national hero and the country's space achievements sends the wrong message.
Parliament convened to pay tribute to Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, an Indian Air Force pilot, following his journey to the International Space Station. The special discussion, which took place a day after Shukla's return to New Delhi, was filled with praise and national pride, even with the opposition's boycott. Jitendra Singh, the Union Minister of State for Science & Technology, commenced the commemoration by applauding Shukla's accomplishments and their importance for India's space ambitions.
The opposition's boycott reportedly stems from their intent to hold a press conference addressing statements made by the Chief Election Commissioner. Opposition MPs were also requesting parliamentary debate on issues such as the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls in Bihar. As the Lok Sabha chair urged the opposition to participate in the discussions about Shubhanshu Shukla, they continued to chant "SIR".
The Centre has rebuked the opposition MPs for failing to congratulate the space experts and scientists for the country's space achievements. They stated that while anger with the government and the BJP is understandable, it is surprising to be angry with an astronaut who is also a disciplined soldier of the Indian Air Force and does not belong to any political party.
Despite the opposition's boycott, the special discussion proceeded with various parliamentarians expressing admiration for Shukla's mission and highlighting its broader impact. Parliament recognized it as a new chapter in Indian space exploration, inspiring young Indians to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and space. Shukla's Ax-4 mission, a collaboration with international partners, provided valuable experience and advanced India's ambitions for its human spaceflight program, Gaganyaan.
However, Shashi Tharoor, a Congress MP, while confirming the opposition's non-participation, praised Shukla's mission on X. He acknowledged the pride all Indians feel for Commander Shubhanshu Shukla's recent mission to the ISS. Tharoor emphasized that the mission facilitated the testing of Indian systems and protocols in a real-life space environment. He highlighted that the experiments conducted during the mission, such as human health studies and plant growth research, provided scientific validation for future projects and will assist ISRO in designing medical and life-support systems for Gaganyaan.
Tharoor called Shukla's mission a milestone in India's human spaceflight program, Gaganyaan, providing ISRO with vital data and first-hand experience that cannot be replicated through simulations. He noted that Shukla's observations on spacecraft systems, pre-launch procedures, and microgravity will help refine and de-risk India's space mission. Furthermore, Tharoor stated that Shukla's success enhanced India's international image in space exploration and gave the country greater recognition in advanced space research platforms. He also acknowledged that the achievement has inspired a new generation to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and space research.
