News18 Daybreak | EC Sets up Panel to Examine PM Modi's 'Mission Shakti' Address and Other Stories You Need to Watch Out For

Episode 245,   Mar 28, 2019, 03:25 AM

In a surprise announcement on Wednesday, Prime Minister Modi confirmed that India had become the fourth nation (after the United States, Russia and China) to demonstrate anti-satellite missile capability by shooting down a satellite.

Describing ‘Mission Shakti’ as a rare achievement he said, “In the journey of every nation there are moments that bring utmost pride and have a historic impact on generations to come. One such moment is today,"

Hours after the televised announcement, the Election Commission set up a panel to examine whether Modi’s address violated the Model Code, which is in force for the Lok Sabha polls,

In the dark: An Anti-satellite missiles (ASAT) are a space defence mechanism and weapons that can target and destroy satellites that may be a threat to a nation’s defences.

The ASAT deployed on Wednesday was a part of Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)’s Mission Shakti. In his announcement of Mission Shakti’s success, Modi said the action was not directed at any country and that the satellite was a pre-determined target orbiting at an altitude of 300 km.

The target, he said, was eliminated within three minutes.

The last time Modi had addressed the nation was November 8, 2016 when he announced the demonetisation of high value currency notes.

A possible violation: The timing of the test, conducted at 11.16am on Wednesday, and the announcement by PM Modi, an hour later, has come under question as it was done just a fortnight before the elections begin on April 11.

The EC set up a panel over Modi’s address after opposition political leaders claimed that it had violated the Code by its portrayal of the mission as the government’s success.

The panel, headed by Deputy Election Commissioner in charge of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) Division Sandeep Saxena, will go through the video and the transcript of the address.

He said she said: Modi’s speech on Wednesday set off a slugfest with several opposition party leaders criticising the Prime Minister for using Mission Shakti for political mileage.

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi congratulated DRDO on the achievement and wished Modi a "Happy Theatre Day".

Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also hit out at Modi saying it was "yet another limitless drama" to "reap political benefits" ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

“Research, space management & development are a continuous process over the years. Modi, as usual, likes to take the credit for everything,” she tweeted.

 A hark back: Meanwhile, several people have drawn parallels between PM Modi’s address and former PM Atal Bihar Vajpayee’s 1998 press briefing announcing the Pokhran nuclear missile tests.

Experts, however, believe that the test, while significant, was not on the same level as Pokhran – II, which was called Project Shakti.

“There is a difference between space weaponisation and space militarization. Space has been militarized for years, but not weaponised. This is not new,” said Air defence expert Air Vice Marshall.

Read more about it here.

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