New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday praised the safe return of astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla from space, calling it a moment of pride for every Indian. Speaking during the 124th episode of Mann Ki Baat, PM Modi said that Shukla’s return sparked a wave of happiness across the nation.
“When Shubhanshu Shukla returned to Earth, a wave of happiness ran through every heart, which filled every Indian citizen with pride,” the Prime Minister said.
Shukla was one of the four crew members of the Axiom-4 mission who recently visited the International Space Station. His journey marks a significant milestone in India’s space aspirations.
Ahead of National Space Day, PM Modi also highlighted the country’s growing achievements in the sector, including the successful launch of Chandrayaan-3 and the increasing involvement of Indian startups.
“More than 200 startups related to the space sector have been started in the country,” he said, adding that the path to a developed India runs through self-reliance. He also underlined the importance of the ‘Vocal for Local’ campaign, calling it the strongest foundation of an ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.
