'Space programme should not be looked as instrument of muscular nationalism'

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday accused the government of attempting to airbrush the milestones achieved in the space sector since the 1960s and said the Indian space programme should be looked as an instrument of development and not an instrument of muscular nationalism reported news agency PTIWhile lauding the Chandrayaan3 mission Jairam Ramesh said there was a need to remind the House of the people who have contributed so far to it rather than fall victim to this new impression that has been created that this entire accomplishment is the result of only one individualParticipating in a discussion on Indias Glorious Space Journey Marked By Successful Soft Landing of Chandrayaan3 in the Rajya Sabha he said its success is based on the competencies capabilities and capacities that have been created over 60 yearswe need to give our scientific and technological institutions full freedom We need to give our scientific and technological institutions full independence and professionalism and we need to free our scientific and technological institutions of any political patronage and political interference and intervention Jairam Ramesh was quoted as saying by PTIHe called for acknowledging the glorious space journey that started in the early 1960s and the important milestones achieved so farEven though the prime minister and the Leader of the House may choose to airbrush them away from history they are a fact of life They cannot be erased from history They are very much part of our space journey Jairam Ramesh was quoted as saying by PTII thought that it is important for me to remind the House where we have come from the journey that we have taken the achievements that we have had the people who have contributed rather than fall victim to this new impression that has been created that this entire accomplishment of Chandrayaan3 and Aditya is the result of only one individual he addedIf you intend to pass a resolution on Chandrayaan3 please acknowledge that the capabilities competencies and capacities that have resulted in its success are the results of investments made over the last 60 yearsThese are based on contribution of successive prime ministers These are based on contribution of a large number of Indian scientists and technologists many of whom we dont even know of many of whom we dont even acknowledge the Congress leader addedRecalling the history of the Indian space programme Ramesh said the first milestone was on February 22 1962 when an office order was issued to establish the Indian National Committee for Space ResearchThe second milestone was creation of the ISRO on August 15 1969 and the third milestone in July 1972 July when Satish Dhawan became the chairman of ISRORamesh noted that Indian space programme has always had a developmental orientationIt has always been space for development space for communication space for rural development space for weather forecasting space for identifying sources of water Indian scientists and technologists have never seen Indias space programme as a symbol of Indian nationalism It has always been seen in a developmental perspective Jairam Ramesh was quoted as saying by PTIRamesh said the Indian space programme fundamentally should be looked as an instrument of development and not as an instrument of muscular nationalismThis has been the hallmark of Indias space programme for the last 60 years and let it be in that spirit he addedI associate myself with the leader of the House Piyush Goyal We acknowledge we salute we applaud ISRO Indian Space Research Organisation the past members of ISRO family the present members of ISRO family We congratulate our Indian scientists we congratulate our Indian technologists Jairam Ramesh was quoted as saying by PTIHe expressed confidence that ISRO would accomplish many more achievements in the years to comeWith inputs from PTI