Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday lavished praise on the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) and its scientists, giving them the entire credit for Chandrayaan-3’s lunar landing, amid the saffron ecosystem’s attempts to ascribe the project’s success to Narendra Modi.
The chief minister, speaking at a state government event in the evening, congratulated the Isro scientists before the landing.
“Today, on behalf of the people of Bengal and India, I want to convey my congratulations in advance to the scientists at Isro. We are so proud of them…. The credit must go to the country and to our scientists, including those from Bengal working there. I congratulate Team India and Isro India, all the scientists, and the teams. Let us celebrate this in our own way,” she said.
Repeatedly underscoring the fact that the credit was due entirely to the organisation and its scientists, Mamata — albeit without naming Modi — seemed to suggest that it was not a prime ministerial achievement.
She asked everyone to refrain from divisive politics over the lunar exploration.
“There should not be any divisive politics over this, as we are one when it comes to matters involving the country,” said Mamata, a principal leader in the 26-party anti-BJP bloc India National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA).
“Credit must go to those working at the grassroots level. Without sleeping even at night, they have been working 24X7. So, let us congratulate them,” she said.
On Tuesday, Mamata had issued a statement on social media. “Chandrayaan-3 mission is a matter of pride for the entire nation! The @isro team belongs to India. Their hard work is a testament of the country’s progress which has come from the people, scientists and economists, and not any political entity,” she had posted.
After the landing on Wednesday, Mamata issued another statement on X, formerly known as Twitter: “Hail Chandrayaan-3! Hail its stupendous success!! Hail @isro!! Hail our nation’s magnificent achievement in sending an exploration mission successfully to the Moon!!”
“Our scientists have testified the country’s scientific and technological progress. India is now in the super league of space. Sincere congratulations to all the proud architects and stakeholders of the expedition,” added the chief minister. “Let us celebrate the majestic moment and pray for further advances of India in the frontier areas of knowledge and applications. Hail India, Jai Hind!”
In her address at the state government event earlier in the day, Mamata had reminisced about IAF pilot Rakesh Sharma’s April 3, 1984, flight aboard the Soyuz T-11 of the Soviet Union. Sharma, the only Indian citizen to ever travel in space, did so when Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister.
“When Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister, she sent a man to (space). I remember… she asked Rakesh (Sharma) how India appears from outer space. To this, he had famously replied: ‘Sare jahan se achha (Better than the whole world)’,” said Mamata.
“No human being went this time, but our own instruments went. Our scientists at Isro deserve all the credit,” she said.