Earlier in the day on 28 February 2024, social media channels were abuzz with pictures of full-page advertisements in Tamil dailies intimating its readers of PM Modi’s arrival in Tamil Nadu to inaugurate the spaceport facility at Kulasekarapattinam in Thoothukudi district. The advertisement which seems to have been published by DMK Minister of Animal Husbandry, Anitha R Radhakrishnan, shows multiple foreign rockets including Chinese rockets, and not a single Indian rocket or a flag anywhere in the advertisement.
The ruling party in #TamilNadu, @arivalayam, puts up a full front page advertisement about the upcoming spaceport in #Thoothukudi
Sadly, the ad showcases multiple foreign rockets, including Chinese ones and doesn't show a single Indian rocket 😅🙈#india #space #science #tech pic.twitter.com/k7Pj8Ii5lT
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) February 28, 2024
The advertisement received criticism from all sections of the society and netizens expressed their discontent on social media.
Speaking to ANI, Thoothukudi DMK MP Kanimozhi, when asked about the newspaper advertisement in the state having an image of a rocket with a Chinese flag, she said, “I don’t know from where the person who did the artwork, found this picture from. I don’t think India has declared China as an enemy country. I have seen that the Prime Minister has invited the Chinese PM and they have gone to Mahabalipuram. Just because you do not want to accept the truth, you are finding reasons to divert the issue…”
#WATCH | On a newspaper advertisement in Tamil Nadu having an image of a rocket with a Chinese flag, DMK MP Kanimozhi says, "I don't know from where the person who did the artwork, found this picture from. I don't think India has declared China as an enemy country. I have seen… pic.twitter.com/0o8tbBwR7z
— ANI (@ANI) February 28, 2024
Netizens slammed Kanimozhi for her insensitive comments and disregard for ISRO scientists and their achievements.
Again, DMK doesn’t care about #India’s pride or @Isro’s achievements. Kanimozhi MP supports the minister who disrespected #ISRO and its achievements.#Kulasekharapatnam #DMKFailsTN #TamilNadu https://t.co/zKypYdUjv8
— Karthik (@skarthikdotin) February 28, 2024
Sometimes defending such silly acts appears even more silly…
She is justifying an image of with Chinese Flag instead of Tricolour on the Rocket to commemorate an #ISRO event…
— Rajeev Venkat (@RVenkat_India) February 28, 2024
During his speech in Thirunelveli, Prime Minister Modi criticised the DMK government as 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.
He added, “Brothers and sisters, these are the leaders of Tamil Nadu DMK. Now they cannot see anything and you know what they call the one who cannot see? And that is why they are not ready to see the progress of India. They are not ready to see the progress of India’s space and with the money that you pay, the taxes that the brothers and sisters of Tamil Nadu pay, they gave advertisements and by giving advertisements, they included not India’s space photo. They do not want to present the success of India’s space programmes to the people of Tamil Nadu or the world. They have insulted our scientists, insulted our space sector, insulted your tax money. They have insulted you in such a way that with eyes closed, this DMK is unable to see things differently. Now is the time to punish the DMK.”
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