The Lok Sabha took up the discussion on Mr Shukla’s journey to space at 2 pm after two earlier adjournments, as Union minister Jitendra Singh said an Indian astronaut will herald “Viksit Bharat” by landing on the moon in 2040, amid the din of Opposition protests.
New Delhi:Parliament on Monday passed the Indian Ports Bill 2025 amid an Opposition walkout demanding a discussion on the electoral rolls revision in Bihar and initiated a discussion on astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla’s International Space Station sojourn.
The Lok Sabha took up the discussion on Mr Shukla’s journey to space at 2 pm after two earlier adjournments, as Union minister Jitendra Singh said an Indian astronaut will herald “Viksit Bharat” by landing on the moon in 2040, amid the din of Opposition protests. However, the debate was inconclusive as the House was adjourned due to vociferous protests by the Opposition over special intensive revision of rolls in Bihar.
He also noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi began space sector reforms after assuming office in 2014. “After opening up the space sector for private players in 2020, India's space economy has already reached $8 billion and will touch $45 billion in the next decade,” the minister said, adding India will undertake an uncrewed space mission involving a robot “Vyommitra” in 2026, followed by maiden human spaceflight Gaganyaan in 2027.
“India will set up its own Bharat Antariksh Station in 2035, and in 2040 an Indian astronaut will set foot on the moon. Prime Minister Modi’s dream of ‘Viksit Bharat’ in 2047 will be heralded a few years in advance from the moon. An Indian on the moon will announce the heralding of Viksit Bharat,” Mr Singh said.
Attacking the Opposition for its protests during a discussion on astronaut Shukla’s journey to the ISS, which eventually led to the House’s adjournment, defence minister Rajnath Singh said the House should have risen above party politics on an issue linked to national pride and achievement.
Expressing dismay on X, as the Lower House adjourned for the day, the defence minister said: “It was very unfortunate the way the Opposition created a ruckus in the House and did not allow it to function.” He added: “These parties should have risen above partisan conduct on the issue of space, which is very important in the 21st century for India’s strategic and scientific interests.”
Before adjournment for the day, the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill 2025, which seeks to decriminalise certain minor offences to promote ease of living and business, was introduced by commerce minister Piyush Goyal in the Lok Sabha, which was then referred to a select committee. The committee was tasked to submit its report by the first day of the next session of Parliament.
Another bill to include IIM Guwahati to the schedule of the Indian Institutes of Management Act to make it an institution of national importance was also introduced in the Lok Sabha by education minister Dharmendra Pradhan amid din.
Earlier, as the Lok Sabha met 11 am, Opposition MPs, including those from the Congress, were on their feet, raising slogans and showing placards with their demand for a discussion on the SIR in Bihar. Speaker Om Birla initially tried to continue the House business by allowing members to ask six questions on several Union ministries and departments amidst the din, but after 15 minutes asked the protesting MPs to go back to their seats and warned that if they try to damage government properties, he would be forced to take strong action. He then adjourned the House till 12 pm.
In the Upper House, replying to the debate on Indian Ports Bill which seeks to consolidate the law relating to ports, promote integrated port development, facilitate ease of doing business, and ensure optimum utilisation of India's coastline, shipping minister Sarbananda Sonowal said: “This is more than a legislative change. It is a strategic intervention to reposition India's maritime sector for the 21st century."
Earlier in the day, when the House reassembled at 2 pm after the first adjournment, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge stood up and demanded discussion on the SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar. Soon, other Opposition members demanding a discussion on the issue joined him.
Leader of the House J.P. Nadda slammed the Opposition’s “irresponsible behaviour” for regularly disrupting the House proceedings by resorting to “anarchism” and “obstructionism”. He added: “They (Opposition) have no interest in discussion.” As he was speaking, slogan-raising MPs staged a walkout.
