The Congress on Monday accused the Modi government of pursuing an "aggressive privatisation agenda" in the space sector and questioned the rationale behind limiting the role of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) while promoting private startups.
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said recent reports about ISRO's future role in India's space programme had raised "legitimate concerns" over the organisation's capabilities and assets built over six decades.
"This has raised legitimate concerns given its capacities, capabilities, and competencies built up so methodically and painstakingly over the past six decades thanks to the vision, dedication, and leadership of Vikram Sarabhai, Satish Dhawan, Brahm Prakash, UR Rao, APJ Abdul Kalam, and so many other distinguished scientists and technologists," Ramesh said on X.
ISRO was founded in 1969, with Vikram Sarabhai playing a key role in its establishment and serving as its first chairman.
Ramesh alleged that the government was pursuing an "aggressive privatisation agenda" in the space programme, similar to what it had done in the nuclear energy sector.
"The motivation is clearly coming from the PM (Narendra Modi) and his PMO itself. ISRO's presence in rocket development and manufacture is to be severely limited and much of its satellite-related assets are to be transferred lock, stock, and barrel to private companies," Ramesh said.
He also claimed that the second spaceport being developed in Tamil Nadu with an investment of around Rs 1,000 crore would be handed over to a private company.
"Given the winds of change, the future of the historic Sriharikota spaceport in Andhra Pradesh is itself anybody's guess," he said.
Ramesh said ISRO had made the country "enormously proud" and noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had himself highlighted its achievements on several occasions.
"Space startups certainly deserve encouragement and support. But why should ISRO, which has for long had productive partnerships with the private sector, now be strangulated and emasculated? Already, in the past few months 100-120 key ISRO professionals have quit, perhaps seeing the writing on the wall," Ramesh claimed.
In an apparent reference to former ISRO chairman G Madhavan Nair, Ramesh said an ex-ISRO chief who joined the BJP in October 2018 after being inspired by Modi had also expressed serious concerns over the new privatisation push.
"Why don't the five other living eminent Chairmen also speak out on this vital issue?" Ramesh said. He also shared a video of his September 2023 Rajya Sabha speech on India's space journey.
(With inputs from PTI)