There was euphoria and an immense sense of pride among
Indians after the successful launch of Chandrayaan-3. Now, India too can be
called an advanced nation. But was this its only motive? One will agree that
our progress in this sector was extremely low as compared to the other nations
that had successfully launched their lunar mission. Undoubtedly, credit for the
successful launch of Chandrayaan-3 goes to ISRO and to the scientists. But at
the same time, one must also not forget that it was the Modi government that
believed in autonomy and hence handed over the authority to combat terrorism
entirely to the Army. His government also extended the necessary support to
scientists for various space research programmes as and when required. Of
course, the Opposition will definitely not accredit its success to the Modi
government because had they had that much courtesy, they wouldn’t have asked
for evidence for the surgical strike from Modi government.
When the country is celebrating the successful launch of
Chandrayaan-3, some people seem to have got this internecine urge to
unnecessarily spur it up and politicize it. For the entire nation, this mission
was a matter of pride. But for people who feel the urge to fight the narrow
battle of credulity, it is necessary to remind them certain facts and hence
this article. Now those who say that the seeds of success of Chandrayaan-3 will
be found in Pandit Nehru’s tenure need to tell the people of this nation whether
is there any accomplishment that need not be attributed to the Nehru-Gandhi
family?
Let us take a close look at the encouragement given by
the Modi government for space exploration programmes. ISRO carried out the
maximum 47 space missions during this period. A few months ago, ISRO also
launched the country’s largest launch vehicle Mark III. Out of the 424 foreign
satellites launched by India so far, nearly 90 per cent, i.e., 389 satellites
were launched during this 9 years tenure. Through its commercial wing, ISRO
launched PSLV and GSLV-MK 3 and launchers for America, France, Israel, Britain,
Italy, Japan, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Finland, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Malaysia, Netherlands, Korea, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland and
other countries, which is indeed a matter of pride.
During 2013-14, there was a budgetary allocation of Rs
5,615 crore for the space sector which was increased by 123 per cent to Rs
12,543 crore during the 9-years of Modi government.Modi government also made
policy changes in the field of space technology. Rules were amended to make
sure that private companies in the country are able to manufacture satellites,
launch rockets and other equipment required for this sector. It was owing to
these changes that in November 2022, a private organization launched a satellite
by building a rocket on its own. ISRO developed a new launcher to send light
weight satellites to space. Since the opening up of the space sector, more than
100 startups registered with ISRO. Some of these startups are also working on
projects related to waste management in space. India’s space sector is
progressing at a faster pace. Even those nations, that had started their space
programs way before India, are now taking India’s services and facilities to
launch their respective satellites. In 2020, the turnover of the aerospace
manufacturing sector in India was $210 billion which is expected to rise to
$320 billion by 2025. It is also estimated that the turnover of satellite
broadcasting services will reach $100 million over the next 3 years from the
current $56 million.
Now let me narrate a few instances to prove my point.
When Indira Gandhi decided to undertake a nuclear test on May 18, 1974, the
then Jana Sangh leadership had extended their complete support to her. Prior to
this, China had successfully conducted its nuclear test on October 16, 1964. In
1962, China had already defeated India in war. When China had announced its
intent to make nuclear bomb, Atal Bihari Vajpayee had insisted saying ‘The
answer to an atom bomb is an atom bomb, nothing else and India too must make
its own nuclear bomb’. One must not neglect the fact that there wasn’t any
political will to create a nuclear-armed India during Pandit Nehru’s tenure.
But when Indira Gandhi showed her determination, the Jana Sangh supported her.
The Jana Sangh also gave its unequivocal support to the then Indira Gandhi
government during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. But when the government
under the leadership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee executed the Pokhran nuclear test
in May 1998 ,instead of supporting, the Congress exhibited its narrow
mindedness and took pleasure in criticizing the Vajpayee government.
The decency that in certain matters politics must be
kept aside was never shown by the Congress under the leadership of Sonia
Gandhi. Even today, Congress’s attitude hasn’t changed. In 1974 when India
conducted its first nuclear test in Pokhran, India had neither developed
nuclear weapons nor had declared itself a nuclear-weapon state. India declared
itself a nuclear-armed country 24 years later in 1998 after the Pokhran-2 test.
At that time, Atalji showed the courage and defied a superpower like America. He
also managed a way out from the sanctions and restrictions imposed by some
countries including the US after this nuclear test. In 1995, PV Narsimha Rao
had decided to conduct a nuclear test. But owing to the pressure from America,
his government failed to conductit. It is unfortunate that despite having an
Atomic Energy Commission since 1948,the country suffered because of lack of
political determination during Congress’s regime to develop atomic bombs and to
make India a nuclear-armed nation.
(Article Pre-Published in Times of India -28 August.
2023)
Keshav Upadhye, Chief Spokesperson
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