Prime Minister Modi held an unexpected address to the nation on Wednesday. In the announcement, which critics cite as a ‘poll tactic’, Modi claimed India now India is in a space ‘super league’, after successfully testing ‘ASAT’ or Anti-satellite missile capable of shooting down space satellites made indigenously by nation’s ambitious space organization ISRO.
#MissionShakti is special for 2 reasons:
(1) India is only the 4th country to acquire such a specialised & modern capability.
(2) Entire effort is indigenous.
India stands tall as a space power!
It will make India stronger, even more secure and will further peace and harmony.— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 27, 2019
There are certain concerns about how the debris from such tests won’t harm the environment or any civilian or military infrastructures around the world. India says it had carried out test in the lower atmosphere so that debris will decay and after few days would fall back harmlessly on earth.
Modi had earlier posted a tweet about his address, without telling what it will be about, fueling rife speculations in Indian media as well as social media channels ranging from big policy change on Pakistan post-Balkot to arrest of popular Indian fugitive, Dawood Ibrahim, hiding in Pakistan’s Karachi a claim which Islamabad vehemently denies.
मेरे प्यारे देशवासियों,
आज सवेरे लगभग 11.45 – 12.00 बजे मैं एक महत्वपूर्ण संदेश लेकर आप के बीच आऊँगा।
I would be addressing the nation at around 11:45 AM – 12.00 noon with an important message.
Do watch the address on television, radio or social media.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 27, 2019
India, after successful testing, has become the fourth nation to do so just behind US, Russia and China. The tests, experts say, maybe specifically timed weeks after a daring escalation of tensions between both nuclear-powered neighbors India and Pakistan and also after a veto-vote by China at UN, barring nations from international ban on designated terrorist Masood Azhar who claimed responsibility for militant attack on Indian paramilitary forces in disputed kashmir region, followed by weeks of heightened tensions and dog-fights between the two.
India’s primary opposition Congress party president Rahul Gandhi, mocked Modi wishing him “happy world theater day”.
Well done DRDO, extremely proud of your work.
I would also like to wish the PM a very happy World Theatre Day.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 27, 2019
Senior Indian journalist Shekhar Gupta, in a tweet proclaimed that India possessing such power was not a unknown fact and called the timing of it as “odd”.
While a successful A-SAT launch is a bold strategic move, PM making such a big deal of it personally shows a poll-eve desperation we hadn’t yet detected/suspected. It’s just a frantic new national security headline as Balakot has faded in a month.
— Shekhar Gupta (@ShekharGupta) March 27, 2019
Several opposition leaders jumped into question government and also threatened to go to nation’s poll-monitoring body, the Election Commission of India.
WB CM on #MissionShakti: It's a political announcement, scientists should have announced it, it's their credit. Only one satellite was destroyed, that wasn't necessary, it was lying there since long, it's the prerogative of scientists, when to do it. We will complain to the EC. pic.twitter.com/4WKRXivX1y
— ANI (@ANI) March 27, 2019
