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Top scientist Avinash Chander, who was recently ousted as chief of the Defence Research and Development Organisation or DRDO has said the termination of his contract was "totally unexpected" and that he was taken by "surprise" by the swift move of the government.

 "Sacking is not a good word to hear after 42 years of service," Mr Chander told NDTV, also saying that Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar was well within his rights to choose his team. The minister had said the government wanted younger scientists on the team.

 Mr Chander, 64, said he was hurt by the way in which the whole episode was handled with the media informing him of what he calls his "sacking" but insists that he has "no regrets" as he has made India a "missile power to reckon with". 

For the very first time in the over 50-year history of DRDO an IAS officer R K Mathur, the current Defence Secretary, has been asked to take additional charge of the scientific department. Till date all the 11 former heads of DRDO have been well known scientists.

 "This seems to be a temporary arrangement," Mr Chander said.

 In a shocking move in January, the government terminated the contract as the chief of defense research in India, of Mr Chandra who is called the "Agni man of India" as he is the architect of the Agni missile system.

 He was given a poignant farewell on his last day in office this weekend with the very successful launch of the long range missile Agni 5.

 Mr Chander said 42 years ago when he joined the DRDO, the country had "zero capacity" in making missiles and today Indian missiles are among the "world’s best and most modern."

 Till as late as the 1970s it was joked that rockets fired to celebrate Diwali, mostly made in Sivakasi, were the best the country had.

 Mr Chander asserts that the DRDO is transforming itself but admits that in the past there have been huge delays like those around the making of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) or Tejas and the Main Battle Tank called Arjun.

 He said on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s request seven special centers have already been set up that are manned by scientists who are below the age of 35. Mr Chander says he leaves behind a "robust" organisation capable of meeting all the challenges necessary to fight India’s adversaries.