1984 picture of Sea Harrier's Shastra Puja busts Congress over Rafale

While the Congress is slamming Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for performing a 'Shastra Puja' in the handover ceremony of India's first Rafale jet, the grand old party itself welcomed the first Sea-Harrier aircraft with a similar 'Puja' in1983, according to archives from Press Information Bureau (PIB). According to PIB archives, the newest aircraft was welcomed into the Indian Navy by performing a traditional puja at British Aerospace Electronic Systems (BAE)'s Dunsfold airbase, England.

According to the archives, the Puja was performed by Naval Adviser's wife, with a brief 'aarati,' followed by smashing of auspicious coconut on the hangar floor in April 1983 at the British airbase. The archives also reveal that the first three Sea Harriers were scheduled to be received only in December 1983.

WATCH |Cong communalises Shastra 'Puja' for Rafale, asks 'why only 'puja'?'

Here is the photo of the puja from the archives:

Sea Harriers to arrive in  December 1983, puja in April 1983 

"The first three Sea Harriers flying via Malta, Luxor and Dubai, led by Lt Cdr Arun Prakash VrC, landed at Dabolim on December 16, 1983. This was followed by first deck landing on the carrier, INS Vikrant, on December 20, 1983 and the arrival of the first Sea Harrier T Mk 60 trainer, on March 29, 1984," stated the Navy spokesperson in a press release.

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Shastra Puja in France, after Rafale handover

Similarly, In October 2019 Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh went to France for the handing over ceremony of IAF's first Rafale jet. After officially being handed over, the Defence Minister performed a Shastra puja at the Merignac air base in France. Visuals showed the Defence Minister marking the aircraft with the auspicious symbol - 'Aum' with vermillion. Visuals also showed a coconut is placed on the wing of the aircraft and holy turmeric threads tied around the wing of the aircraft. He also placed two 'nimbus' beneath the wheels of the aircraft. This puja was performed on the occasion of Dussehra, marking the end of Navaratri festival.

WATCH | Amit Shah slams the Congress party for mocking 'Shastra Puja'

'Why only Puja for Rafale?': Khurshid 

Slamming this traditional ceremony, Congress senior leader Salman Khurshid, on Wednesday questioned why ceremony of only one religion was observed. He claimed that it would have been better if the jet had been blessed according to all religious customs. He added that the Indian Army accommodated all religious beliefs in the country. Slamming the inconsistency of the BJP government, he questioned why was the same not followed outside India.

'All a spectacle to woo people': Kharge

On the contrary, former Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge slammed the ritual itself, calling it a farce. He said it was done to emotionally move people. Pointing out that the deal has been in the works for 25 years, he said India had still not received the jet. He also slammed the BJP of sending the Defence Minister for the handing over rather than sending Defence Marshalls which is the norm.

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