PM Modi Takes Swipe At Rahul Gandhi With ’56 Year Old Youth’ Remark

New Delhi, July 20: Prime Minister Narendra Modi took an indirect swipe at Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi while congratulating the team behind Skyroot Aerospace’s successful Vikram-1 mission, referring to the project’s young scientists and remarking that he was “not talking about a 56 year old.”

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Speaking outside Parliament ahead of the Monsoon Session, Modi hailed the successful orbital launch of Vikram-1 by Hyderabad based Skyroot Aerospace as a landmark achievement for India. He said the average age of the team behind the mission was just 28 years and praised the young scientists for their contribution to the country’s growing space sector.

While highlighting the achievement, Modi remarked that he was referring to a team with an average age of 28 years and “not a 56 year old,” a comment widely seen as an indirect reference to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who recently turned 56.

The remark comes against the backdrop of earlier political exchanges between the BJP and Congress. During the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, BJP leaders frequently referred to Modi’s “56 inch chest.” In recent parliamentary debates, Rahul Gandhi invoked the same phrase while criticising the Prime Minister over issues related to China.

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Modi said the success of the Skyroot team had boosted the confidence of India’s youth and demonstrated their capability in advanced sectors such as space technology. He added that the mission reflected India’s growing stature on the global stage and showed that the aspirations of the country’s youth know no limits.

The Prime Minister also appealed for the smooth functioning of the Monsoon Session of Parliament. He urged all members to engage in constructive discussions based on facts and reason, saying Parliament should function in a manner that allows every voice to be heard while focusing on issues of public importance.