India, Aug. 24 -- BJP leader and former union minister Anurag Thakur on Saturday told students at an event in Himachal Pradesh that Lord Hanuman could be considered the "first one to travel in space", and asked them to look beyond textbooks to connect with India's traditions.

The Hamirpur MP made the remarks while addressing students at a PM Shri School in Una on the occasion of National Space Day. Thakur later shared a video of the interaction on X with the caption: "Pawansut Hanuman Ji. the first astronaut."

During the session, Thakur asked the students, "Antriksh main yatra karne wala pehla kaun tha? (Who was the first space traveller?)."

The students' responses were not individually audible.

Waiting with a smile, Thakur gave his o...