Mamata Banerjee, Mayawati slam PM Modi for politicising Mission Shakti

In a series of tweets, the West Bengal chief minister slammed the Prime Minister and also said her party Trinamool Congress would lodge a complaint with the Election Commission for announcing Mission Shakti, the name of the operation carried out, while model code of conduct is in place for the upcoming Lok Sabha election.

She tweeted: "Today’s announcement is yet another limitless drama and publicity mongering by Modi desperately trying to reap political benefits at the time of election. This is a gross violation of Model Code of Conduct."

"There is no great urgency in conducting and announcing the mission now by a government past its expiry date. It seems a desperate oxygen to save the imminent sinking of the BJP boat. We are lodging a complaint with the Election Commission."

Hitting out at Modi for taking credit, Banerjee said: "Research, space management & development are a continuous process over the years. Modi, as usual, likes to take the credit for everything. Credit to those who really deserve it, our scientists & researchers."
 

Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister and Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati said in a tweet, "Congratulations to scientists for successfully conducting operation Mission Shakti. But the Prime Minister's politicisation of the mission to reap political benefits is condemnable. The Election Commission must take strict cognizance of it."

Congress president Rahul Gandhi congratulated the DRDO on the achievement and tweeted: "Well done DRDO, extremely proud of your work. I would also like to wish the PM a very happy World Theatre Day."

What did Narendra Modi announce?

In an address to the nation on a short notice, the Prime Minister said an anti-satellite missile (A-SAT) has shot down a live satellite in the Low Earth Orbit (LEO), which is 300km away from the earth's surface.

"Our scientists have destroyed a live satellite in the LEO (Low Earth Orbit), 300 km away in space. This live satellite, which was a predetermined target, has been destroyed by anti-satellite missiles (A-SAT)," Modi said.

The announcement came days after Congress president Rahul Gandhi announced NYAY, a Rs. 72,000-crore scheme, to benefit poor people.