The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-led Tamil Nadu State found itself in an embarrassing situation after the party released full-page advertisement of ISRO’s new launchpad at Kulasekarapattinam featuring rockets with China flag. The ad was released by DMK Minister Anitha Radhakrishnan in leading Tamil dailies. Not a single Indian rocket or a flag anywhere in the advertisement.
This advertisement by DMK Minister Thiru Anita Radhakrishnan to leading Tamil dailies today is a manifestation of DMK’s commitment to China & their total disregard for our country’s sovereignty.
DMK, a party flighing high on corruption, has been desperate to paste stickers ever… pic.twitter.com/g6CeTzd9TZ
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) February 28, 2024
The advertisement received criticism from all sections of the society and netizens expressed their discontent on social media. Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself slammed the ruling party for this advertisement showing a Chinese rocket during a public meeting in Tirunelveli.
He said, “DMK is a party that does not work but stands ahead to take false credit. These people paste their stickers on our schemes. Now they have crossed the limits, they have pasted China’s sticker to take credit for the ISRO launch pad in Tamil Nadu,”
PM Modi argued that the DMK was unwilling to acknowledge India’s advancements in the space sector. “They are not ready to accept India’s progress in the space sector and with the taxes that you pay, they give advertisements and do not even include a picture of India’s space in it. They did not want to present India’s space success in front of the world, they insulted our scientists, our space sector, and your tax money. Now it’s high time that the DMK is punished for their deeds,” he said.
The BJP is doubling down its attack on the DMK over this fiasco. Chief Minister MK Stalin celebrates his birthday on 1 March 2023 and as a true “tribute”, the Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party’s social media handle trolled the occasion royally. The official X handle of the state unit of the party shared an image wishing Stalin on his birthday in his “favourite” language hinting at Chinese/Mandarin.
On behalf of @BJP4Tamilnadu, here’s wishing our Honourable CM Thiru @mkstalin avargal a happy birthday in his favourite language! May he live a long & healthy life! pic.twitter.com/2ZmPwzekF8
— BJP Tamilnadu (@BJP4TamilNadu) March 1, 2024
A subsequent post read, “For those who would like to wish our CM in Mandarin, please use this:
穆图维尔
卡鲁纳尼蒂
斯大林生日快乐
我们祝您健康长寿
(Happy birthday Stalin! Wish you a long and healthy life!)”
For those who would like to wish our CM in Mandarin, please use this:
穆图维尔
卡鲁纳尼蒂
斯大林生日快乐我们祝您健康长寿
(Happy birthday Stalin! Wish you a long and healthy life!)
— BJP Tamilnadu (@BJP4TamilNadu) March 1, 2024
In the run-up to his birthday, the BJP handle also shared a video on 29 February 2024 trolling the loyalty that DMK had for China. In true GenZ/ millennial style that looks for matches online via dating apps, the DMK found its match in China for loyalty.
Match found 💕 pic.twitter.com/xBmqTsOLrv
— BJP Tamilnadu (@BJP4TamilNadu) February 29, 2024
Prime Minister Modi, speaking to the public in Thirunelveli, questioned the motives of the DMK government when it came to acknowledging India’s space programmes and the mighty efforts of India’s space scientists.
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