PM Modi takes '56-year-old youngster' subtle dig at Rahul Gandhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday took a subtle swipe at Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi while praising India's growing space capabilities, saying he was referring to "28-year-old youngsters" behind the success of startup Skyroot Aerospace's Vikram-1 launch and "not any 56-year-old 'youngster'."

Addressing media ahead of the commencement of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, the Prime Minister highlighted India's recent achievements in the space sector and praised the country's young innovators.

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"Just before last year's Monsoon Session, an Indian citizen reached the International Space Station, and the day before yesterday, India's young startup achieved a very big milestone. There are very few countries in the world where such private ventures have taken place, and India's youth have taken a new flight into space. It is a very big success," Modi said.

Referring to the team behind the startup Skyroot Aerospace, he added, "The young people working in this 'Skyroot' startup--I have been told the average age of their entire team is only 28 years. Such youngsters have accomplished this work; I am not talking about any 56-year-old 'youngster,' I am talking about these startups in the country with an average age of 28 that have planted India's flag in space."

Skyroot Aerospace's Vikram-1 Test Flight-1 successfully reached orbit on Sunday, marking the maiden flight of India's first privately developed orbital-class rocket.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had congratulated Skyroot Aerospace on the successful launch.

The mission, named "Mission Aagaman", was executed from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The 24-metre carbon-composite rocket completed all planned flight stages, including stage separations and the firing of its Orbital Adjustment Module (OAM).