PM Modi on Mission Shakti: PM Narendra Modi Wednesday announced that India has entered an elite space power club by successfully testing an anti-satellite weapon A-SAT. India targeted a live satellite on low earth orbit. With this, India joined US, Russia and China, the other big powers to conduct such an operation. Mission Shakti is a big achievement in terms of tackling security challenges that India is facing. The “difficult to achieve” ‘Mission Shakti’ was a complex operation but it completed successfully within 3 minutes of launch, PM Narendra Modi said.
Earlier, PM Modi tweeted to inform that he will address the nation to deliver some important message.
“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,” his tweet reads.
The development comes a day before Modi’s rally in Meerut to kick-star BJP’s campaign for the Lok Sabha elections.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has congratulated the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and its scientists for the success of Mission Shakti. "I extend my greetings to them (DRDO and scientists) as the entire nation is proud of their achievements," Nitish Kumar said.
How India's destruction of live satellite with ASAT missile sends a big message to China, Pakistan | Read here
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. 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: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee tweeted
FM Arun Jaitley on Mission Shakti: The process started in 2014 after the PM gave the permission, it's a huge achievement, not only we have become space power but we are now in big four. We should not forget that tomorrow's wars will not be the same as yesterday's wars. (ANI)
FM Arun Jaitley takes dig on West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee. Says processes going on can not be stopped for elections. It is a 365 days process.
India should gear up for every battle and preparedness is our strength, says Arun Jaitley.
This is a historic day for India, especially for scientists who achieved this feat that so far only three countries had, said Union Minister Arun Jaitley.
FM Arun Jaitley: We have the capacity to develop Anti-Satellite missiles but the govt does not allow us, scientists said in 2012.
Cricketer Shikhar Dhawan tweeted: Great achievement for our country as we become the fourth nation in the world to acquire the capability of the Anti-Satellite Missile System. Congratulations to ISRO and PM Narendra Modi for Mission Shakti proud moment!
Mission Shakti – Political war erupts: Congress president Rahul Gandhi wished Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for successfully conducting Mission Shakti details of which were revealed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a televised address to the nation on Wednesday. Read full report here
Mission Shakti was undertaken to develop highly-potent Anti-satellite weapons (ASAT). With ASAT, India has sent a big message to Pakistan and China. The ASAT propels India to the coveted space-superpower league. India will now have the power to decimate satellites for pure military and strategic purpose. Read full report by Debjit Sinha here
PM Narendra Modi called up the entire team of scientists which worked on the #ASAT programme and congratulated them for their hard work. #MissionShakti
Vasundhara Raje tweeted: A proud day for India! Congratulate our scientists at DRDO India on successfully conducting an ASAT Test, shooting down a LEO Satellite. Mission Shakti cements India’s position as the world’s 4th Space Power - another historic milestone under PM Shri Narendra Modi ji.
Ministry of External Affairs on A-SAT: The capability achieved through the Anti-Satellite missile test provides credible deterrence against threats to our growing space-based assets from long range missiles, and proliferation in the types and numbers of missiles. Test isn't directed against any country. India’s space capabilities don't threaten any country nor are they directed against anyone. At the same time, govt is committed to ensuring country’s national security interests&is alert to threats from emerging technologies.
Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Mission Shakti: It's a historic day, India has emerged as a big space power for which all the scientists & the Prime Minister, in particular, deserve full praise. I compliment the scientists and the Prime Minister.
Randeep Singh Surjewala tweeted: Congratulations to DRDO India for the success of Mission Shakti, building blocks of which were laid during UPA-Cong Govt in 2012. India has been at forefront of space technology owing to vision of Pandit Nehru and Vikram Sarabhai. Proud moment for India!
Government sources revealed to ANI that the A-SAT weapon was launched around 11:16AM on Wednesday and targeted an Indian satellite which had been decommissioned and was orbiting on a 'Low Earth Orbit' at a height of 300 KM from the earth's surface. The entire test, with confirmation of target elimination, took 3 minutes. (ANI)
Shivraj Singh on Mission Shakti: Under the able leadership of PM Narendra Modi, team DRDO has achieved a remarkable and historic feat. I am feeling proud that Mission Shakti has been successfully conducted making India, the only 4th nation with capability to destroy low orbit satellite using A-SAT missile. I congratulate the whole team of scientists and engineers at DRDO for this monumental achievement. India has become a Space Power and the success of this mission will give a boost to the nation's technological progress as well as economic growth.
Rathore tweeted: The successful execution of Mission Shakti is a proud, powerful, historical moment for us. Under the visionary leadership of PM Narendra Modi ji, today we have become a formidable space power with proven Anti-Satellite Missile capability. Many congrats to DRDO and all Indians!
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.
Former DRDO Chief and NITI Aayog member Dr VK Saraswat to ANI on anti-satellite weapon A-SAT: This is a fantastic capability to have and it gives us a deterrence in case our adversaries try to militarise the space or try to prevent us from using our existing space capabilities.
Union Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore tweets: The successful execution of Mission Shakti is a proud, powerful, historical moment for us. Under the visionary leadership of PM Narendra Modi ji, today we have become a formidable space power with proven Anti-Satellite Missile capability. Many congrats
to DRDO and all Indians!
Brahma Chellaney: Space wars are not just Hollywood fiction. The US, Russia and China continue to pursue anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons. Space is being turned into a battlefront, making counter-space capabilities critical. In this light, India's successful "kill" with an ASAT weapon is significant.
Announcing success of Mission Shakti, PM Modi said, "Shooting down a low earth orbit satellite is a rare achievement for the country." The satellite was orbiting at an altitude of 300 km, he said, describing India as a space power. Mission Shakti, which was led by the Defence Research and Development Organisation, was aimed at strengthening India's overall security, Modi said.
Congratulations to all the scientists for carrying out "Mission Shakti" successfully. India is moving fast towards becoming a world leader, and under PM Narendra Modi's leadership, it is on its way to not only become a 'super economic power', but also a 'super science power': Nitin Gadkari (ANI)
Mission Shakti 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.
PM Modi tweets: In the journey of every nation there are moments that bring utmost pride and have a historic impact on generations to come. One such moment is today. India has successfully tested the Anti-Satellite (ASAT) Missile. Congratulations to everyone on the success of Mission Shakti.
PM Narendra Modi: A-SAT missile will give new strength to India's space programme. I assure international community that our capability won't be used against anyone but is purely India's defence initiative for its security. We're against arms raised in space. This test won't breach any international law or treaties.
PM Narendra Modi: Today is 27th March. A while ago, India achieved a historic feat. India today registered itself as a space power. Till now, 3 countries of the world- America, Russia, & China had this achievement. India is the 4th country to have achieved this feat
Prime Minister Narendra Modi: Today, we have enough satellites that are contributing in various segments such as agriculture, disaster management, communication, weather, navigation, etc. 'Mission Shakti' operation was a difficult target to achieve which was completed successfully within three minutes of launch.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured the nation that India has enough satellites that are contributing in various segments such as agriculture, disaster management, communication, weather, navigation etc.
PM Narendra Modi announced that the 'Mission Shakti' operation was a difficult target to achieve. He said that it was was completed successfully within three minutes of launch.
India becomes fourth country in the world to achieve this feat other than US, Russia and China. PM Modi's big announcement came shortly after he chaired a meeting of Cabinet Committee on Security.
PM Modi said that India today shot down live satellite. "India has achieved an unprecendented success in space technology by conducting a successful test against a low earth orbit satellite. India has completed mission to shoot down Low-Earth Orbital satellite in a 3-minute long 'Operation Shakti'," he said.
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said that he is still apprehensive that something could happen before the Lok Sabha elections in India. "I am still apprehensive before the elections, I feel that something could happen,” Khan said in an interview to Financial Times. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
Meanwhile, the social media is abuzz with speculations as to what Prime Minister Narendra Modi will speak. Former J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah tweeted: "He’s declaring the results of the Lok Sabha elections. #JustSaying"