A heated row broke out in Parliament on Monday during a special discussion dedicated to Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the Indian Air Force pilot who recently returned after a historic mission to the International Space Station (ISS). While NDA MPs paid tribute to the space hero, opposition parties boycotted the proceedings, demanding a debate on issues relating to the State Investigation Report (SIR) and the Election Commission (EC).
Parliament honours Shux
The session was convened just a day after Shukla’s celebrated homecoming in New Delhi, following his participation in the Ax-4 mission. The mission, conducted in collaboration with international partners, was hailed as a major step towards India’s long-term space ambitions, particularly the Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme.
Union ministers and ruling party MPs lauded Shukla’s contribution, with glowing references to his courage and dedication as both an astronaut and an officer of the Indian Air Force. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju urged all parties to “rise above politics” and acknowledge the significance of the achievement.
Opposition boycott
Despite the mood of national pride, opposition benches remained vacant. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor confirmed in advance that his party and other opposition groups would not participate, citing the government’s refusal to allow a debate on alleged voter fraud.
However, Tharoor, in a post on X, expressed deep admiration for Shukla. “Since the Opposition are not participating in the special discussion, let me say how proud all Indians are of the recent mission of Commander Shubhanshu Shukla to the ISS,” he wrote, adding that the flight represented a “crucial milestone” for India’s space programme.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh strongly criticised the opposition boycott, questioning why political anger had been extended to a national icon. “Your anger can be with the government, your anger can be with the BJP and the NDA. But it is surprising that you can be angry with an astronaut… He does not belong to any political party. You are angry with the earth, you are angry with the sky, and today you seem to be angry with space as well,” Singh declared in the Lok Sabha.
Tharoor and other leaders highlighted that Shukla’s mission has given the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) invaluable operational knowledge, including first-hand experience of spacecraft systems and the physiological effects of microgravity. This data, they stressed, would play a decisive role in refining the Gaganyaan project.