Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has strongly criticised the Opposition for disrupting Parliament during a special discussion on Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s historic space journey. He called the behaviour of Opposition MPs “extremely unfortunate” and “disappointing.”
Mr Singh said the discussion was not political but about India’s achievements in space and the vision of “Viksit Bharat 2047.” He urged that issues like space exploration should be kept above party politics.
“Today, during a special discussion in the Lok Sabha on the journey of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force and ISRO mission pilot to the International Space Station (ISS) and his subsequent return, howThe the opposition created a ruckus in the House and did not allow it to function is extremely unfortunate,” the Defence Minister wrote on X.
He added, “The opposition could have participated in the discussion and provided constructive review, criticism, and suggestions for India’s space program.”
Government Wanted to Honour the Astronaut
Earlier in the day, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said Parliament would honour Group Captain Shukla by discussing his ISS mission. He appealed to the Opposition to put aside differences and celebrate a national hero.
But when the House began, Opposition MPs started protesting against the Election Commission instead. They raised slogans, carried placards, and forced repeated adjournments. Finally, the House was adjourned for the day without a proper debate.
‘Space Should Be Above Politics’
Rajnath Singh stressed that space achievements are about India’s pride and global standing. “Topics like space, which are extremely important for India’s scientific and strategic vision in the 21st century, should at least be kept above partisan politics,” he said.
Union Minister for Space and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh also appealed to the Opposition. “You may have disagreements with the government or the BJP, but this is about an astronaut and an Air Force officer who has made the nation proud. At least show encouragement to our scientists and astronauts,” he said.
आज लोकसभा में भारतीय वायु सेना के ग्रुप कैप्टन और ISRO मिशन के पायलट शुभांशु शुक्ला की अंतर्राष्ट्रीय स्पेस स्टेशन (ISS) यात्रा और उसके बाद की वापसी पर विशेष चर्चा के दौरान जिस तरह से विपक्ष ने सदन में हंगामा किया और सदन को चलने नहीं दिया, वह बेहद दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण है।
यह चर्चा…
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) August 18, 2025
He criticised the Opposition for refusing to congratulate space scientists and astronauts. “Your anger can be with the government. Your anger can be with the BJP and the NDA. But, surprisingly, you can be angry with an astronaut,” he said in Parliament. “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.
India’s Space Plans Shared in Parliament
During the session, Dr Jitendra Singh also highlighted India’s future space plans. He said India will launch an uncrewed mission with a humanoid robot named Vyommitra in 2026. The maiden human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan, is planned for 2027.
He also announced that India will set up its space station, “Bharat Antariksh Station,” by 2035. By 2040, India aims to put an astronaut on the Moon. “An Indian on the moon will announce the heralding of Viksit Bharat,” he said.
He recalled how space technology played a crucial role during Operation Sindoor, where India carried out precision strikes deep inside Pakistan.
BJP Accuses Opposition of Insulting a National Hero
BJP MP Dilip Saikia, who was chairing the session, also criticised the protests. “Every day you come with posters and banners. The entire nation is watching. This is a moment of pride for 140 crore Indians, but you do not want to discuss such an important issue,” he said.
Despite repeated appeals, the Opposition MPs continued their protest, and the House could not take forward the discussion.
Shashi Tharoor Breaks Opposition Line
Interestingly, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor did not join the boycott. He posted on X to praise Shubhanshu Shukla’s mission and highlight its importance.
“Since the Opposition is not participating in the special discussion, let me say how proud all Indians are of the recent mission of Commander Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station (ISS). It served as a stepping stone to our nation’s human spaceflight program, Gaganyaan,” he wrote.
1/3 Since the Opposition are not participating in the special discussion, let me say how proud all Indians are of the recent mission of Commander Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station (ISS). It served as a stepping stone to our nation’s own human spaceflight… https://t.co/y1BWqccEg6
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) August 18, 2025
He also said Shukla’s experience gave ISRO valuable data and strengthened India’s role in global space diplomacy. “Commander Shukla’s historic flight serves as a powerful symbol of India’s ambitions in human spaceflight. It has captured the nation’s imagination, inspiring a new generation to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, maths & space studies,” Tharoor added.
Who is Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla?
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is an Indian Air Force officer and ISRO mission pilot who became the second Indian to travel to space after Rakesh Sharma in 1984.
He was part of NASA’s Axiom-4 space mission and spent over two weeks on the International Space Station. The crew launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre on June 25 and returned on July 15. His mission gave ISRO hands-on insights for the upcoming Gaganyaan program.
