BJP in slugfest with Opposition ministers

New Delhi: A political slugfest broke out on Wednesday over the anti-satellite missile (ASAT) test, with the Opposition parties accusing the Narendra Modi government of trying to play politics with ASAT and trying to divert the nation’s attention from burning issues “on the ground” like unemployment, the rural crisis and women’s safety “by pointing at the sky”.

Reacting to this and the Opposition’s reaction, including the Congress’, the BJP took a dig saying while the ASAT missile was “successfully tested in space, but it seems a few people on earth have also got hurt”. As the Congress credited itself and the erstwhile UPA government for the country’s space mission and this achievement, the BJP accused the Congress and the UPA government of not granting scientists permission to build the country’s own anti-satellite missile, saying it lacked “capability and clarity”.

After Congress president Rahul Gandhi tweeted: “Well done DRDO, extremely proud of your work. I would also like to wish the PM a very happy World Theatre Day”; BJP president Amit Shah said: “Thus speaks the inheritor of the dynasty that thinks — all the nation’s a stage! For them: Sacrifices of soldiers — drama... Success of scientists — drama ... Masquerading as leaders, all that ‘The Dynasty’ has done is to plunder, weaken and ruin the nation.” Mr Shah also took a dig at the Opposition, saying: “The Anti-Satellite (ASAT) Missile was successfully tested in space but it seems a few people on Earth have also got hurt... After spending a lifetime of humiliating our soldiers, (the) leaders of the Opposition have expanded their influence to ridiculing our scientists.” He said while Indian scientists always had talent and capability, the earlier UPA government “did not have the courage to back its institutions and people”, but the NDA under Prime Minister Modi showed the conviction to do so.

Finance minister Arun Jaitley targeted the Congress, saying those patting their own back for India’s strategic missile programme were doing so for the wrong reasons, and said if the Opposition wants to “rectify the Balakot (airstrike) mistake, it is the opportunity for the Opposition to do so and stand in support of our scientists”.

Congratulating Indian scientists for the successful test, BSP supremo Mayawati accused the PM of “playing politics over India’s anti-satellite missile capability” while her alliance partner Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav tweeted: “Today @narendramodi got himself an hour of free TV & divert(ed) nation’s attention away from issues on ground #Unemployment #RuralCrisis & #WomensSecurity by pointing at the sky.”

Similarly, West Bengal chief minister and Trinamul supremo Mamata Banerjee said India’s space mission programme was “world class for many many years”, but took on the BJP and the PM, saying: “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 the Model Code of Conduct.”

Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters, Mr Jaitley said when India test-fired the Agni-V missile in April 2012, then DRDO chief V.K. Saraswat had said India could develop an anti-satellite missile, but the government hadn’t given its nod.

Applauding the achievement, transport minister Nitin Gadkari said the country was on its way to become not only a super economic power, but also a super science power under the leadership of Mr Modi.

Echoing similar sentiments, his Cabinet colleague and Akali Dal leader Harsimrat Badal said: “Mission Shakti (is) a great achievement, and this time a surgical strike in space. We are now an elite space power. Congratulations Indian Scientists and Prime Minister.”

Asserting that the process for the ASAT test had started “after 2014... when Mr Modi approved it”, Mr Jaitley said: “Our scientists wanted this (test) to be conducted earlier too. They had even said we have this capability, but Government of India is not allowing us and that is why we are not able to develop it.” He cited media reports published on April 21, 2012 to stress that the previous government did not give permission for this test to be conducted. Mr Jaitley said the then DRDO chief, V.K. Saraswat, had said India had the capacity to develop an anti-satellite missile but the then government did not permit it.

“Those who are wrongly patting themselves for their failures should remember that footprints of their lies do get exposed. Our scientists were ready for this since the last decade but previous governments didn’t have the clarity to approve it,” said Mr Jaitley.

Attacking the Opposition for their objections, Mr Jaitley said: “When the finger points at the moon, the idiot always points to the finger.”