Northeast Desk, 4th July: Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi over speculations that he might be a candidate for India’s inaugural manned space mission, ‘Gaganyaan,’ scheduled for 2025. Ramesh took to social media platform ‘X’ on July 4 to express his concerns, urging PM Modi to prioritize addressing domestic issues before considering space travel.
The criticism follows a media report quoting Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chief S. Somnath, discussing PM Modi’s potential involvement in the Gaganyaan mission. Somnath emphasized the broader goals of the project, including enhancing India’s human spaceflight capabilities and potentially contributing to the International Space Station’s astronaut training program.
Meanwhile, the central government is facing scrutiny from opposition MPs regarding ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur, which began in May 2023. Addressing the Rajya Sabha, PM Modi assured that the government is actively working to stabilize the situation. He highlighted measures taken, including the registration of over 11,000 FIRs and the arrest of more than 500 individuals, noting a reduction in incidents of violence.
PM Modi underscored ongoing efforts by both central and state governments to engage with all stakeholders towards restoring peace in Manipur amidst the challenging circumstances.
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