Arun Jaitley hits back at Congress, Opposition over missile launch

DN Bureau

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Wednesday accused the the erstwhile UPA government of not granting scientists permission to build the country's own anti-satellite missile, saying it lacked "capability and clarity".

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley


New Delhi: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Wednesday accused the the erstwhile UPA government of not granting scientists permission to build the country's own anti-satellite missile, saying it lacked "capability and clarity".

Also Read: PM Modi- India enters its name as elite space power

Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters here, he said when India had test-fired the Agni-V missile in April, 2012, then DRDO chief V K Saraswat had said that India could now develop an anti-satellite missile but the government had not given its nod.

Also Read | If not for alternate ideologies, Cong would've converted India into a kingdom: Jaitley

Targeting the Congress, he said those patting their own back for India's strategic missile programme were doing so for wrong reasons.

"If they want to rectify the Balakot (air strike) mistake, it is the opportunity for the opposition to do so and stand in support of our scientists," he said, referring to the air strike on a terrorist camp in Pakistan after the Pulwama terror attack. 

Also Read | Jaitley lauds PM, says Oppn 'spreading lies' about demonetisaton

Also Read: India- A-SAT testing not directed to any country, doesn't violate international law

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday announced that India had demonstrated anti-satellite missile capability by shooting down a live satellite, describing it as a rare achievement that puts the country in an exclusive club of space super powers. (PTI)










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