Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Aug 24: The Congress on Monday accused the Modi government of pursuing an “aggressive privatisation agenda” in the space sector and questioned the reported move to limit the role of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) while expanding the role of private companies.

Congress general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh said recent reports about the future role of ISRO in India's space programme had raised “legitimate concerns” over the organisation's capabilities and assets developed over six decades.

Ramesh said ISRO's expertise had been built through the vision and contributions of scientists and technologists including Vikram Sarabhai, Satish Dhawan, Brahm Prakash, UR Rao and APJ Abdul Kalam.

ISRO was established in 1969, with Vikram Sarabhai playing a key role in its formation and serving as its first chairman.

In a post on X, Ramesh alleged that the government was pursuing an “aggressive privatisation agenda” in the space sector similar to what he claimed had happened in the nuclear energy sector.

“The motivation is clearly coming from the PM (Narendra Modi) and his PMO itself,” Ramesh alleged.

He claimed that ISRO's role in rocket development and manufacturing was being significantly curtailed and that several satellite-related assets could be transferred to private companies.

Ramesh also claimed that the second spaceport being developed in Tamil Nadu at an estimated cost of around Rs 1,000 crore could eventually 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.

The Congress leader said ISRO had made India “enormously proud” and pointed out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself had repeatedly highlighted the organisation's achievements.

Ramesh said the growth of private space startups should certainly be encouraged, but questioned why ISRO's role needed to be reduced when the organisation had maintained productive partnerships with private industry for decades.

“Why should ISRO, which has for long had productive partnerships with the private sector, now be strangulated and emasculated?” he asked.

Ramesh further claimed that around 100 to 120 key ISRO professionals had left the organisation in recent months, suggesting that some employees may be concerned about the direction of the space programme.

In an apparent reference to former ISRO chairman G Madhavan Nair, Ramesh said a former chief of the organisation who joined the BJP in October 2018 after being inspired by Modi had also expressed concerns over the reported privatisation push.

“Why don't the five other living eminent Chairmen also speak out on this vital issue?” Ramesh asked.

He also shared a video of his speech in the Rajya Sabha in September 2023, in which he had discussed India's journey in the space sector.