A Giant Leap for India: Parliament to Honour Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Amid Political Storm Over Electoral Integrity
The Indian Parliament on Monday is set to pay special tribute to astronaut Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who returned to India this weekend after becoming the first Indian in 41 years to travel to space.
The Lok Sabha will hold a discussion titled “India’s first astronaut aboard the ISS – Critical role of the space programme for Viksit Bharat by 2047,” with members expected to debate the future of the country’s space ambitions.
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| Image Source: GSSJodhpur |
“Our hero astronaut has returned home after a successful mission. Parliament will honour him with a special discussion on his achievement and on India’s growing space ambitions,” Rijiju posted on X, comparing the celebratory mood to the recent debate on Operation Sindoor.
Shukla, who trained for nearly a year in the US before flying aboard NASA’s Axiom-4 mission, conducted more than 60 experiments during his 18-day stay at the ISS. His reflections after returning -- quoting advice from commander Peggy Whitson that “the only constant in spaceflight is change” and recalling the song Swades from his mission playlist -- struck a chord with many Indians.
“I carry your love and strength with me,” Shukla wrote in a message to supporters, promising to share his experiences widely across the country. He is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and attend National Space Day events later this month.
Modi himself hailed the astronaut’s feat, calling it a proud chapter in India’s space journey and underscoring that missions like Axiom-4 dovetail with indigenous efforts such as Gaganyaan and the planned Indian space station.
“These milestones strengthen India’s space ecosystem,” he said.
Outside the tributes, however, Parliament continued to be roiled by protests from the Opposition. Both Houses witnessed adjournments through the morning as INDIA bloc MPs raised slogans and trooped into the Well demanding a discussion on the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar.
Opposition parties have alleged that the exercise amounts to “silent rigging” ahead of state elections, dubbing it “vote chori.”
In the Lok Sabha, Speaker Om Birla warned protesting MPs of strict action if they damaged House property, remarking that the force used in sloganeering would be better directed towards raising people’s issues. But as the protests persisted, proceedings were adjourned first till noon and then till 2 pm. The Rajya Sabha also faced similar disruptions.
The uproar comes a day after Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar refuted allegations of bias, dismissing Rahul Gandhi’s “vote theft” charge as an “insult to the Constitution.”
Kumar demanded Gandhi either submit an affidavit proving his claims or apologise to the country, a move that has further sharpened the confrontation. Congress and allies are reportedly weighing an impeachment motion against the CEC during the Monsoon Session.
Alongside these clashes, routine business continued sporadically. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal introduced the Jan Vishwas (Amendment) Bill 2025 in the Lok Sabha, while resolutions referring the bill to a select committee were adopted amid din.
The Monsoon Session, which began on July 21, has so far seen limited business, with repeated adjournments first over Operation Sindoor and now over the voter roll controversy.
Monday’s scheduled debate on India’s space vision -- coming after Shukla’s celebrated ISS mission -- may provide a rare moment of consensus in an otherwise fractious Parliament.