Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a televised address to the nation today said India has shot down a low earth orbit satellite with an anti-satellite missile or A-SAT.
PM Modi - asserting that the action is not directed against any country - said that with Mission Shakti's success, India has become the fourth country to have tested such an anti-satellite weapon after the US, Russia and China. The A-SAT missile shot down the Low Earth Orbit satellite within "three minutes of launch", with remarkable precision and technical capability, PM Modi said.
"This is a big moment for India. Something that all of us should be proud of. We are not just capable to defend on land, water and air, but now also in space. I congratulate all scientists who have made this possible and made India a much stronger nation," PM Modi said in a televised address.
The opposition said it was the UPA government that started the ASAT programme, which finally gave results now. "The UPA government had initiated the ASAT program which has reached fruition today. I congratulate our space scientists and the visionary leadership of Dr Manmohan Singh," Congress parliamentarian Ahmed Patel tweeted.
Here are the Highlights on Mission Shakti:
The Election Commission said it is "studying" this morning's announcement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the anti-satelite missile test. The Opposition parties had raised a clamour after the announcement, claiming the Prime Minister was trying to gain political points two weeks before the national elections and it was a violation of the Model Code of Conduct.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also launched a sharp attack at PM after his televised addressed.
Congress Chief Rahul Gandhi took a dig at PM Modi soon after he announced the success of Mission Shakti.
"The UPA government had initiated the ASAT program which has reached fruition today. I congratulate our space scientists and the visionary leadership of Dr Manmohan Singh," Congress parliamentarian Ahmed Patel tweeted.
"A defining moment for our Nation! #MissionShakti is a hallmark of our scientific aptitude & commitment to national security. Congratulations to PM @narendramodi ji, our scientists & citizens as India joins the power league of Nations having Anti-Satellite (ASAT) Missile (sic)": Union Minister Smriti Irani on Twitter
Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav reacted to PM Modi's address to the nation saying PM Modi diverted attention from issues on the ground by pointing at the sky.