Nation
Modi government weakening ISRO, plans to transfer satellite assets: Congress
Jairam Ramesh points to the space agency’s role in rocket development and manufacturing being significantly reduced
The Congress on Monday pointed to how the Narendra Modi government was aggressively pursuing the privatisation of India’s space programme and attempting to restrict the role of the Indian Space Research Organisation.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh, citing media reports, showed that the government was preparing to substantially reduce ISRO’s involvement in developing and manufacturing rockets. He also alleged that several satellite-related assets could be transferred to private companies.
There was no immediate response from the government to the developments.
In a post on X, Ramesh described the reported changes as worrying, arguing that ISRO had built its capabilities, expertise and operational efficiency through sustained effort over the past six decades.
He said start-ups in the space sector should be encouraged and supported but questioned why ISRO was allegedly being weakened despite its long history of successfully working with private companies.
The Congress leader said the space agency had repeatedly made India proud and added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had frequently highlighted its achievements.
Ramesh further said that between 100 and 120 experienced ISRO professionals had left the organisation in recent months. He suggested that the departures could indicate concern among employees over the agency’s future direction.
Referring to a second space centre being developed in Tamil Nadu at an estimated cost of nearly Rs 1,000 crore, Ramesh said that preparations were underway to transfer its operations to a private company.
He said the reported developments had also raised questions about the future of the historic Sriharikota space centre in Andhra Pradesh.
The Congress MP revealed that the Prime Minister and the Prime Minister’s Office were driving the privatisation agenda in the space sector, drawing a parallel with changes being pursued in nuclear energy.
Ramesh also referred to former ISRO chairman G Madhavan Nair, who joined the BJP in October 2018. He claimed that Nair had recently raised serious concerns about the latest privatisation initiative.
The Congress leader asked why the five other surviving former ISRO chairmen had not publicly addressed the issue.
With PTI inputs