Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his call with Indian astronaut IAF Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla from space, said, "You are farthest from India but closest to Indians' heart." PM Modi stated, "There's 'shubh' in your name and your journey is...'shubharambh' (beginning) of a new era." PM said he had "feelings of 140 crore Indians" with him while talking to Shubhanshu.