Kolkata: Lambasting Prime Minister Narendra Modi West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has described his announcement of India’s successful test of anti-satellite missile system: Mission Shakti a “limitless drama and publicity mongering” for his “political benefits” in the ensuing Lok Sabha Elections.
She claimed that conducting the mission and its announcement by a government beyond its expiry date was not “urgent”.
Accusing Mr Modi of violating the Model Code of Conduct, the Trinamul Congress supremo declared that her party would lodge a complaint against him with the Election Commission.
She also questioned whether Mr Modi ever went to space or researched on space. Soon after Mr Modi’s televised address to the nation on Wednesday afternoon, Ms Banerjee tore into him.
“India’s Mission Programme is world-class for many many years. We are always proud of our scientists, @DRDO_India, other research & space organisations. 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,” she said on Twitter.
Taking a dig at the PM she alleged, “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. There is no great urgency in conducting and announcing the mission now by a government past its expiry date. It seems a desperate oxygen to save the imminent sinking of the BJP boat. We are lodging a complaint with the Election Commission.”
Ms Banerjee continued her tirade against Mr Modi later during the announcement of her party’s manifesto for the polls. “Who is not proud of our scientists at DRDO or ISRO or any other space management institution?
“In 2010, the DRDO announced that they have the capability and they can do it. It is nothing new today. It is not as if Rome was built in a day. It is a continuous process. This process started long back. We were too small then,” the West Bengal chief minister said.
