Jaipur, Sep 7: Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Monday accused the Narendra Modi government of weakening ISRO and attempting to hand over the country's space sector to private players.
Gehlot said India's space programme was the result of the vision of former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and the leadership of Indira Gandhi, who trusted scientists, provided them resources and helped build institutions such as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
"Today, the Modi government is bent on quietly handing over that legacy to private hands," he alleged.
Gehlot's remarks came after nine employee associations at ISRO wrote to the space agency's Chairperson V Narayanan on September 4, seeking official clarification on the proposed transfer of its manufacturing and operational functions to private entities.
The senior Congress leader claimed that the Modi government had not created a single new national institution during its 12 years in power and had instead systematically weakened institutions established during Congress governments.
"Now it is the turn of a prestigious institution like ISRO, whose employees themselves have taken to the streets seeking answers from the government," he claimed.
Gehlot alleged that the government's approach towards ISRO was not merely an attack on an institution but on the country's scientific self-respect.
"The government which cannot build anything itself is engaged in selling national assets created during the Congress era," he alleged.
ISRO on Sunday said neither would it be privatised nor would its importance be diminished.
In a post on X on Sunday, the space agency asserted that participation of the private sector enables ISRO to focus strongly on the next generation of India's space programme, while the industry scales mature technologies and capabilities.
