New Delhi: Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress termed him "master of chunavi photo-ops" after he took a sortie on a Tejas aircraft during his visit to Bengaluru on Saturday. Accusing the former of not giving credit to the previous Congress-led government at the Centre for pushing the development of the light combat aircraft, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said it doesn’t cost much to acknowledge the efforts and endeavours before 2014.
Taking to X, Jairam Ramesh wrote, “Tejas is yet another tribute to our indigenous scientific and technological capacity and capability that has been built up resolutely over the decades.”
The Congress leader further pointed out that Tejas was designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) which was established in 1984 and worked collaboratively with the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy. The design for the Light Combat Aircraft was finalised six years later and the operational clearance was granted finally in 2011.
“It doesn't cost the master of ‘chunavi photo-ops’ much to acknowledge the efforts and endeavours prior to 2014 that were essential to his claiming credit now,” Jairam Ramesh further wrote.
Notably, after taking a sortie on a Tejas aircraft, PM Modi said the experience boosted his confidence in the country’s indigenous capabilities.
Taking to X, PM Modi wrote, “Successfully completed a sortie on the Tejas. The experience was incredibly enriching, significantly bolstering my confidence in our country's indigenous capabilities, and leaving me with a renewed sense of pride and optimism about our national potential.”
"Flying in Tejas today, I can say with immense pride that due to our hard work and dedication, we are no less than anyone in the world in the field of self-reliance. Heartiest congratulations to the Indian Air Force, DRDO and HAL as well as all Indians," he added.