New Delhi: Astronaut and Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday in Delhi following his successful mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
Earlier on Monday, Shukla also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He served as the pilot of the Axiom-4 Space Mission to the ISS and returned to Earth on July 15, landing in the national capital in the early hours of Sunday after completing the NASA mission.
Highlighting Shukla’s achievements, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla emphasized the significance of his mission and the broader role of India’s space program in realizing a ‘Viksit Bharat by 2047’.
“On this occasion, the House welcomes Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla to India. His mission and successful return are not just milestones of space exploration but a source of national pride and inspiration for our youth,” Birla said while addressing the Lok Sabha.
On Monday, the Lok Sabha briefly discussed the importance of India’s space program and the critical role of astronauts like Shukla in shaping a developed India by 2047. Birla congratulated him on his achievements.
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Jitendra Singh, also spoke during the session, responding to opposition members’ calls for discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Bihar’s voter list.
Singh criticized the opposition for failing to acknowledge India’s space achievements, saying, “It is surprising that the opposition cannot even praise the country’s accomplishments in space. While your grievances may be with the government or the BJP and NDA, it is astonishing to direct them at an astronaut—a disciplined officer of the Indian Air Force who is not affiliated with any political party.”
