Why strangulate ISRO with privatisation push: Congress

New Delhi: Congress has accused the Narendra Modi government of embarking on an "aggressive privatisation" of India's space programme that will "limit" the Indian Space Research Organisation's presence in rocket development and manufacture, and asked why ISRO be "strangulated and emasculated".

Congress spokesman Jairam Ramesh alleged the privatisation agenda would mean transferring much of ISRO's satellite-related assets lock, stock and barrel to private companies.

"ISRO has done India enormously proud and the prime minister himself has basked in the glory of its achievements on multiple occasions. Space startups certainly deserve encouragement and support. But why should ISRO, which has for long had productive partnerships with the private sector, now be strangulated and emasculated?" Ramesh said.


He noted that "a distinguished former ISRO chairman, who had joined BJP" (G Madhavan Nair), has also expressed serious doubts on the privatisation drive involving ISRO. "Why don't the five other living eminent chairmen also speak out on this vital issue?" Ramesh added.