Mission Shakti: India has "achieved a big feat", he said.
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:
Asaduddin Owaisi Attacks PM, Hails scientists on Mission Shakti
IMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was trying to appropriate DRDO's success in demonstration of anti-satellite missile capability.
Mr Owaisi said he was expecting more, like tangible action against Pakistan.
UPA Didn't Have Courage To Back Institutions: Amit Shah
"UPA did not have the courage to back its institutions and people, NDA under PM Modi has shown the conviction to do so," tweets BJP president @AmitShah
Nitish Kumar congratulates DRDO on success of ''Mission Shakti''
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday congratulated the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and its scientists for the success of ''Mission Shakti''.
Praising the DRDO and its scientists associated with "Mission Shakti", Mr Kumar expressed happiness on India becoming the fourth country in the world to join the exclusive club of space super powers after the US, Russia and China, an official release said.
PM Modi has made country proud with 'Mission Shakti': Devendra Fadnavis
Devendra Fadnavis said Wednesday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had done India proud with the successful testing of an anti-satellite missile.
He also congratulated the scientists who achieved the feat and noted that India has become the fourth country in the world after the US, Russia and China to have such a capability.
PM Modi Playing Politics For Electoral Gains: Mayawati
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of playing politics over India''s anti-satellite missile capability.
"Congratulations to Indian defence scientists for the successful experiment of shooting down a satellite in the space. But the prime minister playing politics under its garb for electoral gains is most condemnable," she said in her tweet in Hindi.
"Yet Another Limitless Drama": Mamata Banerjee Attacks PM ModiWest Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also launched a sharp attack at PM after his televised addressed.
Happy World Theatre Day: Rahul Gandhi To PM After Mission Shakti Announcement
Congress Chief Rahul Gandhi took a dig at PM Modi soon after he announced the success of Mission Shakti.
UPA Government Had Initiated ASAT Program, Says Congress's Ahmed Patel
"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.
India Has Become A Space Power, Says Shivraj Singh Chouhan
"Defining Moment For Our Nation": Smriti Irani
"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
Congress Congratulates ISRO On Mission Shakti
PM Modi Points At The Sky, Diverts Attention From Issues On Ground: Akhilesh YadavSamajwadi 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.
Nitin Gadkari Tweets On Mission Shakti"I congratulate the scientists and the people of this country on the success of Mission Shakti. We have shot down a low orbit satellite, which means the nation is prepared to face threat of any kind," Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said in a tweet.
"This is a perfect example of the capability of India's defence forces and space scientists. Our scientists have proven that the nation is in able hands," he said.
You Can Watch PM Modi's Address To Nation Here
Historic Impact On Generations To Come: PM
"Mission Shakti Special For Two Reasons...," PM Modi Tweets
"This was done under India's Mission Shakti programme. 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
"India has always maintained that space should not be an arena for warfare and that remains unchanged in spite of this. India has always been a nation of peace, but we also defend ourselves. It is with that intention that we achieved this capability," PM said.
India becomes only the fourth nation after the United States, Russia and China to be able to target objects in space: PM
India A Major Space Power, Says PM "India is now a major space power. In less than three minutes, a made-in-India anti-satellite missile shot down a satellite in the LEO (Low-Earth Object) satellite," he said.
"India has achieved a big feat today... this time in space sciences," PM said.
"It's a moment of pride for the country," says PM Modi as he addresses the nation. India shot down a low-satellite mission, he says.
PM Modi in his tweet said he would speak around 12 pm.
It is unusual for the Prime Minister to address the nation ahead of Lok Sabha elections.
PM Modi Tweets About "Address To Nation"