"Avinash Chandar pays price for inability to toe line on "Make in India"(MAI) campaign? Can anyone press button & do MAI in defence instantly?," party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi tweeted.
Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh said on Twitter "Avinash Chander DRDO Chief dismissed 15 months before his term expired. Would government please explain?".
The Appointments Committee of Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi had "approved the termination" of the contract of Avinash Chander with effect from January 31.
Chander is known to be the chief architect of Agni series of ballistic missile systems.