New Delhi: Congress leader Udit Raj sparked controversy on Tuesday with his remarks suggesting that a Dalit or OBC candidate should have been chosen for the Axiom-4 space mission instead of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla.

Speaking to news agency ANI, Udit Raj pointed to the lack of representation from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backwards Classes (OBC) in India's space exploration history.

"... When Rakesh Sharma was sent earlier, the SC, ST, and OBC people were not that educated. This time, I think it was the turn to send a Dalit... It is not that NASA conducted an exam, and then there was a selection. Any Dalit or OBC could have been sent in place of Shukla ji...," he told ANI.

After spending almost 20 days in space, with almost 19 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 mission (Ax-4), Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian astronaut to visit the ISS, along with this crew for the mission, is set for a splashdown on earth off the coast of San Diego, California, at around 3 PM IST on Tuesday.

The undocking of the AX-4 mission took place at around 4:35 AM IST on Monday with assistance from the ISS. After travelling for over 22 and a half hours, the Dragonfly spacecraft is expected to land on the California coast at 3 PM IST. Following recovery, the astronauts will undergo medical check-ups and rehabilitation.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said that Indian astronaut Subhanshu Shukla's 15-day mission in space will play a crucial role in India's first manned spaceflight under the Gaganyaan program. Shukla became the first Indian in 41 years to travel to space, where he undertook scientific experiments aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

"This has been an unforgettable experience for him (Shubhanshu Shukla). He carried out multiple experiments aboard the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station. After experiencing space and microgravity, he conducted several scientific tests. This mission has been a major learning opportunity for us. ISRO took up this mission to gather experience that will help us in our Gaganyaan program," said Nilesh M. Desai, Director, Space Applications Centre, ISRO. (ANI)