Opposition boycott Lok Sabha discussion on Group Captain Shukla’s space mission

New Delhi, Aug 18: A special discussion in the Lok Sabha on the space journey of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla was disrupted on Monday as Opposition members raised protests and slogans against the Election Commission, forcing repeated adjournments and finally leading to the day’s proceedings being called off.

The session had been scheduled to honour Group Captain Shukla, who recently returned from the International Space Station as part of NASA’s Axiom-4 mission, making him only the second Indian to travel to space after Rakesh Sharma in 1984

The discussion was intended to focus on India’s space programme and its role in the country’s long-term scientific and strategic goals. Despite appeals from the government to maintain decorum and recognise the achievement, the Opposition’s protest continued, overshadowing the event. Group Captain Shukla’s 20-day mission has been described as a milestone for India’s upcoming human spaceflight programme, Gaganyaan, and a step forward in international space cooperation.