Bangalore: Foot-in-the-mouth much, Narayanswamy? In a speech that left many scientists, who don’t necessarily believe in God or luck, much less politicians, red-faced, the minister in the PMO, V. Narayanaswamy, described himself as ISRO's 'lucky mascot', claiming that his mere presence at India's rocket launch site was enough to ensure the success of six satellite launches.
Except, he didn't know where they were launched from!
Speaking on Wednesday at the launch of ISRO’s book, Destination Mars: Secrets of the Red Planet Revealed, the minister said: “I have been invited to Mahendragiri many times. I have gone there six times and all the launches were successful. I have accompanied the PM and President to Mahendragiri.”
Errr.. the launch site is at Sriharikota, not Mahendragiri.
If that wasn't enough, he also said he had often thought that, "If I don't like a politician I can send him away to Mars and forget about him for one year, since it takes so long to get there!"
Narayanaswamy has been associated with ISRO for 20 years now, first as chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on science & technology and now as the minister of state in the PMO. So much for rocket science!
