Girish Bapat congratulates DRDO for successful missile launch

Maharashtra minister Girish Bapat on Wednesday congratulated DRDO scientists for shooting down a satellite "which was keeping a watch on India". Apparently, Bapat, the BJP's candidate for Pune Lok Sabha seat, did not

realise that it was a test of an anti-satellite missile and India had shot down one of its own low-orbit satellites. "India, using anti-satellite missile, successfully shot down a live satellite at 300 km from earth in outer space, which was keeping a watch on India," he tweeted in

Marathi. He congratulated Defence Research and Development Organisation's scientists for the success of `Mission Shakti'.

After the post came in for trolling, the minister's social media team deleted it. According to the DRDO, a Ballistic Missile Defence Interceptor Missile successfully engaged an Indian orbiting target satellite in Low Earth Orbit in a 'Hit

to Kill' mode. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced success of the test in a nation-wide broadcast.