The Indian Parliament was expected to unite in celebration on August 18, 2025, as lawmakers gathered for a special session honoring Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian in 41 years to journey to space. Instead, the day became a stage for political discord, with the historic achievement of Shukla’s International Space Station (ISS) mission overshadowed by heated protests, walkouts, and pointed words from both sides of the aisle.
Shukla, an Indian Air Force pilot and astronaut, had just returned to Earth on July 15, splashing down off the coast of California after completing NASA’s Axiom-4 mission. His journey began on June 25 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, marking a triumphant chapter for India’s growing presence in global space exploration. Upon his return to India on August 17, he was welcomed at Indira Gandhi International Airport by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh. The following day, Shukla met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the PM’s official residence in New Delhi, where they reportedly shared a light-hearted conversation about the mission’s challenges and triumphs.
Monday’s Parliament session, titled “India’s First Astronaut Aboard the International Space Station — Critical Role of Space Programme for Viksit Bharat by 2047,” was meant to commemorate Shukla’s feat and highlight the nation’s ambitions for a developed India by 2047. But as the session commenced, the mood quickly soured. The Opposition, led by the Congress and its INDIA bloc allies, raised slogans and staged a boycott, demanding discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll in Bihar—a process they allege threatens to disenfranchise marginalized communities. The government, for its part, insisted the SIR issue was sub judice and not open for debate, leading to an impasse and, ultimately, the adjournment of the Lok Sabha for the day.
The absence of Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, who was in Bihar leading the ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ until September 1, became a flashpoint. BJP leaders seized on his nonattendance, accusing him of habitual absenteeism during critical national events. “Some matters must rise above politics. Every Indian is proud of Shubhanshu Shukla. When such a historic session is happening and the whole world is watching, Rahul Gandhi’s absence is unfortunate. National issues demand unity, not petty politics,” BJP leader Rakesh Tripathi told IANS. Satpal Sharma, BJP’s Jammu & Kashmir president, added, “Rahul Gandhi is always missing when something important happens in Parliament. Not everyone can achieve what Shukla has. PM Modi met him today, recognising his contribution. But the Opposition seems unwilling to extend such respect. That’s why Congress keeps losing public trust.”
Congress and its allies, however, pushed back against these accusations. RJD leader Mrityunjay Tiwari explained, “LoP Rahul Gandhi is currently in Bihar leading the ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ until September 1. That’s why he couldn’t attend. But everyone else from our side was present.” Congress MP Karti Chidambaram expressed pride in Shukla’s achievement but insisted that the government’s approach to the SIR was exclusionary: “The real issue is the government’s attitude. SIR is a very serious matter. It’s not about Shukla — we are proud of him — but SIR is an exclusionary exercise. The aim should be to include every eligible citizen, not to disenfranchise the marginalised and minority communities.”
As the session descended into chaos, Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh voiced his disappointment, lamenting the lack of unity over what he called a moment of national pride. “This should have been a moment of national pride, but the Opposition’s absence shows misplaced priorities,” he said. Singh’s remarks in Parliament were pointed: “The opposition has failed to congratulate the space experts and scientists for our space achievements. Your anger can be with the government. Your anger can be with the BJP and the NDA. But it is surprising that you can be angry with an astronaut. And that astronaut who, apart from being an astronaut, is also a disciplined soldier of the Indian Air Force. He does not belong to any political party.” He added, “You are angry with the earth, you are angry with the sky and today you seem to be angry with space as well.”
Singh also took the opportunity to highlight the Modi government’s investment in space technology, referencing the recent Operation Sindoor and predicting a bright future for the country’s space sector. “India will set up its own Bharat Antariksh Station in 2035 and in 2040, an Indian astronaut will set foot on the moon,” he declared, projecting that India’s space economy would reach $45 billion in the next decade.
Despite the partisan rancor, there were moments of cross-party appreciation. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor broke ranks with the Opposition’s boycott to praise Shukla’s mission, calling it “a stepping stone to Gaganyaan” and a “symbol of India’s space ambitions.” Tharoor later posted on social media, lauding Shukla’s first-hand insights on spacecraft systems and microgravity effects as crucial for de-risking and refining India’s human spaceflight program, while also inspiring a new generation of Indian scientists.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, meanwhile, was unsparing in his criticism of the Opposition. “The manner in which the Opposition created a ruckus in the House and did not allow it to function is extremely unfortunate,” he posted, arguing that space achievements should be kept above partisan politics and celebrated as matters of “national pride and scientific vision.”
The session’s abrupt end left many of its goals unrealized. Intended as a showcase for India’s ascent in global space diplomacy and its vision for the coming decades, the discussion was drowned out by political noise and adjourned without resolution. The Lok Sabha is now scheduled to reconvene on August 19 at 11:00 AM, but the divisions exposed during the session are unlikely to heal overnight.
Still, the significance of Shukla’s mission remains undiminished. His journey marks India’s return to human spaceflight after more than four decades, and his presence aboard the ISS is seen as a harbinger of the country’s ambitions, from the Gaganyaan program to a possible lunar landing by 2040. As Shukla himself becomes a symbol of national aspiration, his achievement stands as a testament to what can be accomplished when science, policy, and public imagination align—even if, for now, the politics have yet to catch up.
