Extending heartfelt congratulations to Sunita Williams and her team for their successful return to Earth, chief minister Mamata Banerjee, on behalf of the West Bengal legislative Assembly urged the central government to confer the Bharat Ratna on the Indian-origin astronaut in recognition of her achievements.
Addressing the Assembly on Wednesday, Mamata Banerjee acknowledged the immense physical and mental challenges the astronauts faced. "They endured great hardships during this mission. We extend our special gratitude to the rescue team for their extraordinary efforts in bringing them back safely," she said.
The Chief Minister also recalled the tragic case of Kalpana Chawla, saying, "She could not return from space. I have studied space science and I understand that just as an airplane can malfunction, so can a spacecraft during re-entry. That is what happened in Kalpana Chawla’s case, leading to the accident. She was trapped."
Emphasising the critical role of the rescue team in ensuring Sunita Williams' safe return, Mamata said, "A special team worked tirelessly to make her return possible. We are grateful for their dedication and respect their efforts, which inspire them to continue their work."
Calling Sunita the ‘daughter of India,’ the Bengal CM made a strong appeal to the central government.
"Sunita is a daughter of India. I urge the central government to confer the Bharat Ratna on her. Every day in space, they faced immense mental pressure — it was like enduring a storm within. I followed their journey closely and saw that two countries assisted NASA in the mission. Finally, they landed successfully in Florida. I congratulate them."
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