US wanted India to share space tech post Chandrayaan-3: ISRO Chief
Rameswaram (TN) (PTI): ISRO Chairman S Somanath on Sunday said experts involved in developing complex rocket missions in the US, after witnessing the developmental activities of Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft, suggested that India share space technology with them.
Times have changed and India is capable of building the best of devices and rockets and that is why Prime Minister Narendra Modi has opened the space sector to private players, he said at an event here.
Somanath was addressing students at an event organised by Dr A P J Abdul Kalam's Foundation, commemorating the 92nd birth anniversary of the late former President today.
"Our country is a very powerful nation. You understand that? Our knowledge and intelligence level in the country is one of the best in the world," the ISRO chief said, explaining, "In Chandrayaan-3, when we designed and developed the spacecraft, we invited experts from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA-JPL, who does all the rockets and most difficult mission."
He continued: "About 5-6 people from NASA-JPL came (to ISRO headquarters) and we explained to them about Chandrayaan-3. That was before the soft landing took place (on August 23). We explained how we designed it and how our engineers made it...and how we are going to land on the Moon's surface, and they just said, 'no comments. everything is going to be good'."
JPL is a research and development laboratory funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and managed by California Institute of Technology (CALTECH) in the United States of America.
"They (US space experts) also said one thing, 'look at the scientific instruments, they are very cheap. Very easy to build and they are high technology. How did you build it? Why don't you sell this to America,' they were asking," he said.
"So you (students) can understand how times have changed. We are capable of building the best equipment, best devices, and the best rockets in India. That is why our Prime Minister Narendra Modi has opened the space sector," he added
India successfully touched down near the south pole of lunar surface with the Chandrayaan-3's lander on August 23, making it only the fourth country to achieve the feat of a Moon landing after the US, China and the erstwhile Soviet Union.
Somanath further told the students, "Now we are telling you people (to) come and build rockets, satellites and make our nation more powerful in space technology. It is not only ISRO, everybody can do it in space. There is one company in Chennai building rockets called Agnikul and another in Hyderabad called Skyroot. At least in India, there are five companies today building rockets and satellites."
Appealing to the young audience at the venue to follow the ideology of Kalam, Somanath said the most powerful tool is to dream and "Kalam sir told you that you should dream when you are awake and not in the night."
"Anybody have such dreams? Anybody want to go to the Moon? When we landed Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft on the Moon, I declared to Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) that India is on the Moon. And he asked when are you going to send an Indian to the Moon. So, some of you sitting here will do that job. Some of you will design the rocket which will go to the Moon," he said.
"And at the launch of Chandrayaan-10, one of you will go sitting inside the rocket and most probably a girl child. A girl astronaut will go from India and then land on the Moon (in Chandrayaan-10 mission)" he said, amid applause from the students.
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AIMPLB plans to challenge Waqf Bill in court, calls it a 'black law'
New Delhi(PTI): The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), a major organisation representing Muslims in India, on Wednesday said it will challenge the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in court, calling it a "black law" that threatens the rights of the community.
The Waqf legislation is being taken up for debate and passage in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. If passed by the Lower House, the bill will be tabled in the Rajya Sabha.
Criticising the bill at a press conference, AIMPLB member Md Adeeb claimed it is an attempt to seize the properties of the Muslim community.
"They have started this spectacle thinking they can take away our property. Can this be accepted? Do not think that we are defeated," Adeeb said, emphasising that the fight against the bill is just a beginning.
Stating that the bill was opposed during deliberations in the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) set up to review it, Adeeb said, "It should not be assumed that we have lost the battle. We have just begun. This is a fight to save the country because the proposed law endangers the very fabric of India."
Adeeb, who urged all conscientious citizens to resist the bill, reaffirmed the AIMPLB's commitment to oppose the proposed legislation both legally and through public demonstrations.
"We will go to court. We will not rest until this law is withdrawn," he said.
AIMPLB spokesperson Mohammad Ali Mohsin said, "We have started this fight because we want to save the country. Our aim is to put an end to this black law."
The board members also hinted at nationwide protests, drawing parallels with the farmers' agitation.
"We will organise programmes across the country just like the farmers did. If needed, we will block roads and take all peaceful measures to oppose the bill," Mohsin said.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill aims to amend an 1995 Act governing Waqf properties in India. The amendments, the Centre has said, are aimed at improving the management of Waqf properties in the country.
The bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha in August last year, after which it was referred to the Joint Parliamentary Committee, which examined it and submitted a report in February this year.
The contentious changes in the bill include the provision for non-Muslim members in the Central Waqf Council and Waqf boards. Also, any government property identified as Waqf will cease to be Waqf and the district collector will determine their ownership.
The opposition parties, including the Congress, have opposed the legislation, claiming the panel formed to examine the bill did not consider the suggestions put forward by the opposition MPs.
They also accused the Centre of rushing the bill.
