Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry on Saturday mocked India’s failed mission to the moon after India’s space agency lost track of the spacecraft Chandrayaan 2 moments before its scheduled touchdown.
In a series of late-night tweets, Fawad trolled India for having spent Rs 900 crores on its “failed” space programme, while millions of its citizens remained mired in poverty.
Questioning the wisdom of India’s leadership he suggested that instead of spending such a hefty amount on fantastical projects, the Indian government should instead focus on poverty alleviation and building toilets.
He also questioned the wisdom of the Indian leadership and said it was unwise for them to venture into unchartered territory.
Awwwww….. Jo kaam ata nai panga nai leitay na….. Dear “Endia”.
Awwwww….. Jo kaam ata nai panga nai leitay na….. Dear “Endia” https://t.co/lp8pHUNTBZ
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) September 6, 2019
In one tweet Fawad urged Indians to sleep and not wait for the Space Agency’s announcement about the moon mission.
So ja Bhai moon ki bajaye Mumbai mein utar giya khilona #IndiaFailed https://t.co/RPsKXhCFCM
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) September 6, 2019
It wasn’t long before others within Pakistan’s ruling establishment joined Fawad’s bandwagon of mocking India.
Senator Faisal Javed of Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) in a tweet called the project a huge waste of money, likening it to India’s “futile” attempts at “aggression, killings, genocide and violence in Kashmir”.
SmallMen in BigOffices-endia has failed big time.They don't ve to work on the moon-They ve to work on thr Toilets 1st. Waste of huge money same as waste of Endia's #aggression, #killings, #Genocide & #Violence in Kashmir because Kashmiris will get FREEDOM insha'ALLAH #IndiaFailed
— Faisal Javed Khan (@FaisalJavedKhan) September 6, 2019
Director-General Inter-Services Public Relations Maj General Asim Ghafoor also issued a tweet from his personal twitter handle which questioned whether the failure of the project will be blamed on “innocent Kashimiris of “Occupied Kashmir” or on India’s Muslim minorities, or on “sane anti-Hindutva voices” or on Pakistan’s security agencies.
Well done @isro
Who to blame:
1. Under siege innocent Kashmiris of IOJ&K?
2. Muslims & minorities of endia?
4. Sane anti hindituva voices of endia?
4. ISI?hindituva will take you nowhere, let alone moon.
For another stream of lies & fake claims see replies!#AnotherVirChakar— Asif Ghafoor (@peaceforchange) September 6, 2019
Fawad’s tweets generated widespread criticism from both Indian and Pakistani twitter user.
One twitter user from India pointed out that a science minister who couldn’t spell ‘satellite’ felt it necessary to mock others.
https://twitter.com/soumyastic/status/1170125309225529344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1170125309225529344&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dnaindia.com%2Findia%2Fphoto-gallery-can-t-even-spell-satellite-indians-and-pakistanis-slam-pak-science-minister-for-mocking-isro-2788049
While another Pakistani user pointed out that India had Rs 900 crore to spare for such a mission while all Fawad Chaudhry had was his Twitter account.
https://twitter.com/fzaklm/status/1170130774370258945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1170130774370258945&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dnaindia.com%2Findia%2Fphoto-gallery-can-t-even-spell-satellite-indians-and-pakistanis-slam-pak-science-minister-for-mocking-isro-2788049
Other twitter users from Pakistan also joined in reminding Fawad that a failed mission to the moon was better than having no space policy at all.
The #Chandrayaan2Live mission will only motivate scientists in India and beyond to do even better.
The only reaction legitimate reaction from Pakistanis should be admiration and, if in power, the fiscal, budgetary & procedural reforms that will enable emulation.
— Mosharraf Zaidi (@mosharrafzaidi) September 7, 2019