Congress hails successful launch of India's imaging satellite; slams Modi government for 'attacking' ISRO

Congress general secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh said that after a relatively quiet period, ISRO successfully launched its GSLV rocket from Sriharikota early this morning to launch the 2367 kg advanced Earth imaging satellite into orbit. File. | Photo credit: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar

Congress on Friday (4 September 2026) hailed the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) for successfully launching the country’s first-ever imaging satellite into geo-orbit and accused the Modi government of carrying out a “radical role reshaping” that will “change the very character” of India’s space agency.

Graphics | India’s space journey

The opposition party said the launch would also undoubtedly be a big morale boost for the space agency “as it has come under attack from various sides”.

ISRO on Friday (September 4, 2026) once again entered the history books by successfully launching the country’s first-ever imaging satellite into geo-orbit, placing over 2,300 kg of payload into a precise orbit using the GSLV rocket.

Friday’s launch marked the space agency’s first success in 2026.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said in a post on X: “Congratulations to the entire @isro team on the successful GSLV-F17/EOS-05 mission! EOS-05, India’s first imaging satellite from geosynchronous orbit, will further enhance our Earth observation capabilities that we have been developing for years.” “We are extremely proud of our scientists, space engineers and researchers whose dedication and ingenuity continue to propel India’s space program to greater heights,” the Congress leader said.

The Congress party has always remained deeply committed to scientific temperament and space research, he said.

“The founders of modern India laid the foundations of our space program with vision and foresight, and generations of our scientists have built on this legacy with remarkable achievements,” Mr Kharge said.

“This is another major achievement that will add to the country’s strategic capabilities. It will also undoubtedly be a big morale booster for ISRO as it has come under attack from various quarters,” Mr. Ramesh told X.

“The entire nation should appreciate the profound resilience of ISRO and wish it success in its upcoming endeavours, whatever they may be, under the radical reshuffle of roles taking place at the instigation of the PMO, which will change the very character of this inspiring public institution that the country has been proud of for decades in the face of enormous obstacles,” the Congress leader said on X.

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra congratulated the great team of ISRO for the successful GSLV-F17/EOS-05 mission.

“Your remarkable work and dedication continues to take India’s space journey to new heights. It is a proud moment for every Indian! Jai Hind,” she said.

The EOS-05 satellite was successfully placed into its intended sub-geosynchronous transfer orbit about 18 minutes after it lifted off from the Sriharikota spaceport.

The Congress last month accused the Modi government of “strangling and exterminating” ISRO, criticizing it for pursuing an “aggressive privatization agenda” for the space programme.

Mr. Ramesh said that in the last few days there have been reports about the future role of ISRO in our country’s space programme.

“This has raised legitimate concerns given its capacities, capabilities and competencies that have been so methodically and painstakingly built over the last six decades through the vision, determination and leadership of Vikram Sarabhai, Satish Dhawan, Brahm Prakash, UR Rao, APJ Abdul Kalam and many other eminent scientists and technologists,” Mr Ramesh said at X.

ISRO was established in 1969 and its first chairman was Sarabhai, who was involved in its conception.

Mr. Ramesh claimed that the Modi government has an “aggressive privatization agenda” for the space program as much as for nuclear power.

Published – 4 Sep 2026 12:30 PM IST