You’ve been a career science man, when did you decide to join politics?

Does that mean you will not actively take part in the party’s functioning?

Speaking about progress, what you think about the Sabarimala issue?

You said you were impressed by the PM, can you put that in Isro’s context?

There was a ban on you, will that change now? Will you be consulting on the human mission?

Have you spoken to the PM, or government about revoking the ban?

Pakistan last week announced it will send humans to space by 2022 with Chinese help...

Former Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) Chairman G Madhavan Nair, who has been banned by the government from being employed in any government organisation after the Antrix-Devas scandal broke out in 2011, has officially joined the BJP. In his first full interview after joining the saffron party, Nair spoke with TOI about his role in the party, the Sabarimala issue, how Isro has been revived, and what the manned mission means to India.I am not a politician and even after this, I will not be one. I have been working with the BJP for a while now because I was impressed with the development agenda of Prime Minister Narendra Modi . Yesterday, the party president ( Amit Shah ) just officially inducted me into the party.Like I said, I am no politician. My role will be provide help in a technical capacity to further Modi’s nation building agenda. Beyond that, I don’t think I have anything in mind. There is enough work to do, especially in a state like Kerala, where we need to convince people about development and progress, and I will be doing that.The constitution of India also provides for religious freedom. The argument here is about personal rights and religious freedom and I think the state should not interfere in religious matters, and it must be left to the temples. And, when you look at the Supreme Court order too, there is a dissent judgement there, so...Isro has enjoyed support from most prime ministers, but if you look at the way things are happening now, I can say that there has been a positive change, especially in the past year when Sivan took charge of the agency. Isro is now being taken back to its past legacy, and you will recall that the prime minister has also announced the manned mission, something Isro has been wanting but didn’t get in the past. And, Sivan, who grew up beside me in Isro, is a very capable leader.I have been very clear that I won’t be helping or participating in anything until the ban imposed by the Manmohan Singh government is revoked. I am on my own, I am doing my work, and contributing internationally, and that’s what I’ll do.No, I have not spoken to anybody about it, and I don’t intend to.Pakistan is yet to even launch a rocket on its own...it is dependent on China for missiles, nuclear and everything. In this case I think the Chinese would help Pakistan assemble a module on which it can put its flag, but the technology and the launch will all be Chinese.