The Congress on Monday (August 24, 2026) slammed the Modi government for its "aggressive privatisation agenda" for the space programme and asked why ISRO should be "strangulated and emasculated" for encouraging private startups.

Congress general secretary for communications, Jairam Ramesh, said there have been news reports over the past couple of days about ISRO's future role in our country's space programme.

"This has raised legitimate concerns given its capacities, capabilities, and competencies built up so methodically and painstakingly over the past six decades thanks to the vision, dedication, and leadership of Vikram Sarabhai, Satish Dhawan, Brahm Prakash, UR Rao, APJ Abdul Kalam, and so many other distinguished scientists and technologists," Mr. Ramesh said on X.

There have been news reports in the past couple of days on ISRO's future role in our country's space programme. This has raised legitimate concerns given its capacities, capabilities, and competencies built up so methodically and painstakingly over the past six decades thanks to…

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) August 24, 2026

Indian Space Research Organisation, or ISRO, was founded in 1969, with Sarabhai, instrumental in its conception, as its first chairman.

The Congress leader claimed that the Modi government has an "aggressive privatisation agenda" for the space programme just as it had for nuclear energy.

"The motivation is clearly coming from the PM (Narendra Modi) and his PMO itself. ISRO's presence in rocket development and manufacture is to be severely limited, and much of its satellite-related assets are to be transferred lock, stock, and barrel to private companies," Mr. Ramesh said.

The Modi government will also hand over the second spaceport in Tamil Nadu to a private company, for which it is investing around ₹1,000 crore, the Congress general secretary said.

"Given the winds of change, the future of the historic Sriharikota spaceport in Andhra Pradesh is itself anybody's guess," he said.

Mr. Ramesh said that ISRO has made India enormously proud, and the prime minister himself has basked in its glory on multiple occasions.

"Space startups certainly deserve encouragement and support. But why should ISRO, which has for long had productive partnerships with the private sector, now be strangulated and emasculated? Already, in the past few months, 100-120 key ISRO professionals have quit, perhaps seeing the writing on the wall," Mr. Ramesh claimed.

In an apparent reference to G. Madhavan Nair, he said that an ex-ISRO chairman, who had joined the BJP in October 2018 after being inspired by the prime minister, has also expressed serious doubts on the new privatisation drive.

"Why don't the five other living eminent Chairmen also speak out on this vital issue?" Mr. Ramesh said.

The Congress leader shared a video of his speech in the Rajya Sabha in September 2023 on India's glorious space journey.