Kolkata, 19 March (H.S.) -

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has called for conferring the Bharat Ratna on astronaut Sunita Williams. Speaking in the Assembly on Wednesday, she congratulated Sunita and her team for their courageous journey. She also mentioned that she has been studying space science and finds inspiration in Sunita’s space mission.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, The way Sunita Williams and her team endured hardships is remarkable. I kept myself updated on their journey. They truly deserve this honor. She urged the central government to recognize Sunita Williams' achievements by awarding her the Bharat Ratna.

Sunita Williams and her team embarked on their space mission on June 5, 2024. Initially, they were supposed to spend only eight days on the International Space Station (ISS), but due to technical malfunctions, their return was repeatedly delayed. Finally, after spending 286 days in space, they safely returned to Earth on Wednesday at 3:27 AM (IST).

Addressing the Bengal Assembly, Mamata Banerjee lauded Sunita and her team for their extraordinary courage. She also revealed that she has been studying space science and closely following advancements in the field.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh