New Delhi, Mar 27: By shooting down a live satellite, India on Wednesday became an important space power, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the nation in a televised address.
India became the fourth country to have done that. Till date only the US, Russia and China had this achievement; today India had managed that, he said.
“Some time back, our scientists have struck down a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite,” he said.
“It is an important achievement for the country that we have been able to do it with anti-satellite weapons (ASAT). I congratulate the scientists associated with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO),” he said.
“Our anti-satellite missiles have managed to do this under mission Shakti,” he said.
“Space is an important part of our life. We have satellites that are helping in different fields–agriculture, navigation, medicine, security, railways, airways and weather.
“The space satellites’ importance is going to increase. Today’s ASAT missile will give a bigger strength to India. We also want to assure others that this strength would not be used to harm anyone.
“We want to use the power only for the benefit of peace and to strengthen the country. Our aim is to establish peace and not create an atmosphere of war.
“Mission Shakti is a step in taking forward our aim of ‘Surakshit, Smriddh and Shantipriya rashtra’.
“The aim of Mission Shakti is to take forward our dream of a safe, prosperous and peaceful nation. I dream of a country that can think ahead in time and is also able to achieve that,” the PM said.
Earlier, he had said in a Twitter message that he would address the nation at 11.45 am.
“I would be addressing the nation at around 11.45 am to noon with an important message,” he had said. “Do watch the address on television, radio or social media.” He had given no details.
As the country awaited the “important announcement”, the social media was rife with speculation. A YouTube link was also shared with a few media houses.
A cabinet meeting had taken place following a Cabinet Committee on Security. It was expected that Modi would speak as soon as the cabinet meet got over, television reports had said.
The last time Modi had addressed the nation was on November 8, 2016, when he had announced demonetisation.
