Congress leader Rashid Alvi slams PM Modi for taking Mission Shakti credit

Congress leader Rashid Alvi on Monday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken credit for India's Mission Shakti that shot down a low-orbit satellite using ASAT missile. Alvi said that this success was achieved during the tenure of the Manmohan Singh and that it was initiated during UPA government.

New Delhi: Congress leader Rashid Alvi on Monday took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modito take credit for India's Mission Shakti that shot down a low-orbit satellite using ASAT missile.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday announced that India has become the fourth country in the world to successfully hit a satellite in space with an anti-satellite missile, after the US, China and Russia.

Taking to twitter, Modi had said, "#MissionShakti was a highly complex one, conducted at extremely high speed with remarkable precision. It shows the remarkable dexterity of India’s outstanding scientists and the success of our space programme."

While speaking to ETV Bharat, Alvi said that this success was achieved during the tenure of the Manmohan Singh and that it was initiated during UPA government.

"Narendra Modi is trying to mislead the people of the country but taking credit. Such an achievement does not come overnight. It takes years to complete a mission. This mission was started by our government, the result of which is in front of all," he said.

The Congress leader, however, lauded the Indian scientists but criticized the NDA government saying it was all done to gain votes ahead of the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Besides Alvi, many opposition leaders took to their twitter accounts to lash out at Narendra Modi.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi, in a tweet, said, "Well done DRDO, extremely proud of your work. I would also like to wish the PM a very happy World Theatre Day."

Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav tweeted, "Today @narendramodi got himself an hour of free TV & divert nation's attention away from issues on ground — #Unemployment #RuralCrisis & #WomensSecurity — by pointing at the sky. Congratulations @drdo_india & @isro — this success belongs to you. Thank you for making India safer."

Indian scientists successfully carried out the test of an anti-satellite missile by bringing down one of its satellites in the low earth orbit 300 kilometres from the Earth’s surface.

The mission was completed within 3 minutes when a pre-determined target satellite some 300 km away in the sky was destroyed using a complicated space manoeuvre, Modi said in a nationally televised speech.