Chennai: PM Narendra Modi accused Tamil Nadu’s governing party DMK of neglecting India’s achievements in the space sector after an advertisement placed by a state minister in a local newspaper showed a rocket with a Chinese flag on its nose cone.
“DMK is a party that doesn’t do much work, but is always ready to take false credit. We all know that DMK tries to take credit for our schemes. This time, they’ve crossed all limits,” he said, addressing a public gathering in Tirunelveli. His remarks followed his participation in the foundation stone-laying ceremony for a new space vehicle launch complex at Kulasekarapattinam in Tuticorin district. “DMK’s advertisement today is hilarious. They have insulted Indian science and Indian space sector, for which they must apologise,” the PM tweeted later.
State fisheries minister Anitha Radhakrishnan, who represents Tiruchendur constituency where the space complex is coming up, had placed the advertisement on the event. It showed images of Modi and CM MK Stalin against a backdrop of rockets. One of the rockets prominently displayed a Chinese flag, while others featured Chinese lettering. Radhakrishnan could not be reached for comment.
DMK MP Kanimozhi attributed the mistake to artist responsible for artwork. She also referenced Modi’s 2019 meeting with Chinese premier Xi Jinping in Mahabalipuram. “And, moreover, China was not declared our enemy,” she said.
