New Delhi, July 15 -- Congress leader Udit Raj on Tuesday stated that a Dalit candidate could have been selected instead of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla for the Axiom-4 space mission.

He noted that when Rakesh Sharma became India's first astronaut, there were no representatives from the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, or Other Backwards Classes (OBC), who were not well-educated.

Speaking to ANI, the Congress leader said, "... 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..."

After spending almost 20 days i...