Pawan Khera slams BJP over post showing national emblem at Modi’s feet

A BJP graphic celebrating India’s latest satellite launch has triggered a political dispute after Congress leader Pawan Khera accused the party’s Goa unit of insulting the national emblem.

The post, titled “Bharat Spacemaxxing,” showed a stylised, meditating Prime Minister Narendra Modi seated before a rocket launch. A small representation of the national emblem appeared at the base of the image. The BJP’s Goa unit said the EOS-05 satellite had entered orbit and would give India “a sharper eye from space.”

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Placing a minimised, camouflaged image of our national emblem at the feet of a compromised and increasingly unpopular PM is an insult to our national symbol.

Khera called for strict legal action against those responsible. In a post on X, he said, “Placing a minimised, camouflaged image of our national emblem at the feet of a compromised and increasingly unpopular PM is an insult to our national symbol.” He added, “No individual is above the emblem,” and said the image deserved condemnation, including from members of the BJP.

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No individual is above the emblem.

“The national emblem represents the Republic of India, not the political or personal fortunes of any party,” Khera said. He was responding to the BJP post marking the successful deployment of EOS-05, an Earth observation satellite intended for geosynchronous orbit.

The satellite launched from the Second Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota aboard the GSLV-F17 rocket, the 19th flight of India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle. Students, teachers and space enthusiasts gathered at the viewing area despite rain. EOS-05 is designed to provide repeated observations of large areas of Earth, including information useful for weather and agriculture.

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The national emblem represents the Republic of India, not the political or personal fortunes of any party.