Prime Minister Narendra Modi commended the prompt response of the Indian Navy in thwarting a hijacking attempt on a merchant vessel in the North Arabian Sea during his address at the DGP conference in Jaipur on Sunday. Additionally, he acknowledged the recent achievement of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in placing India's inaugural solar observatory, Aditya L1, into its designated orbit, facilitating uninterrupted monitoring of the Sun's atmosphere.
During the conference, PM Modi lauded the Indian Navy's courageous mission, emphasizing their swift action upon receiving intelligence about a hijack threat. The Navy, along with Marine Commandos, covered a distance of 2000 km to rescue the ship in the Arabian Sea, successfully safeguarding 21 crew members, including 15 Indians, from the seized MV Lila Norfolk.
Expressing gratitude, the rescued crew members were heard chanting "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" in a video released by the Navy, thanking the Indian Navy for their timely intervention.
Turning his attention to ISRO's accomplishment, PM Modi highlighted the successful placement of Aditya L1 in its final orbit near the Lagrange L1 point. He commended ISRO for its scientific prowess and the significant milestone in space exploration. Aditya L1, India's first solar mission, will spend the next five years analyzing the Sun and its surroundings from the Lagrange point, providing an uninterrupted view without the hindrance of eclipses or occultations.
Officials from ISRO emphasized that the positioning of Aditya L1 at the L1 point, about 1.5 million kilometers from Earth, offers a unique advantage for continuous solar observation. The satellite's location in a halo orbit around the L1 point enables ongoing monitoring of the Sun, contributing to a better understanding of solar activities and their impact on real-time space weather.
