The source of the controversy is the rocket ‘s red nose, which features
four golden stars arced around the right side of a larger fifth star – the
same emblem on the Chinese national flag
Chennai: A newspaper ad hailing the creation of a second launch pad for
India’s space agency ISRO – in Tamil Nadu’s Kulsekarapatinam – has triggered a
furious row after an image of the Chinese flag figured prominently on the
rocket in the poster. The ad was commissioned by Tamil Nadu’s Animal Husbandry
Minister Anitha Radhakrishnan, who did so in his personal capacity,
highlighting the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s role in bringing this
long-pending project to the state, NDTV was told.
Mr Radhakrishnan has been unavailable for comment, but Thoothukudi MP
Kanimozhi (in whose constituency the ISRO facility will be built) has defended
her party. She acknowledged the error – attributed to the artwork designer –
and said the issue does not merit the backlash it has received.
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 poster itself shows Prime Minister Narendra Modi – who was in the state,
one in which his Bharatiya Janata Party has traditionally struggled for votes,
this week to drum up support before the general election – and Chief Minister
MK Stalin side-by-side, with a rocket in the background.
The source of the controversy is that rocket – its red nose features four
golden stars arced around the right side of a larger fifth star. This is the
same emblem that marks the Chinese national flag.
Mr Modi and the BJP have been quick to pounce on the error.
The PM ripped into the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, which thumped the BJP
(then allied with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) in 2019
general and 2021 state elections.
“DMK does not do work and takes false credit. They paste their stickers on our
schemes. But now they have crossed the limit… they pasted China’s sticker to
take credit for the ISRO launchpad…”
“They are not ready to accept India’s progress in the space sector. They do
not want to present India’s space success to the world. They have insulted our
scientists and our space sector.”
“Now it is high time the DMK is punished for their deeds,” the Prime Minister
thundered.
Mr Modi’s sharp attacks have been amplified by the BJP’s state unit boss, K
Annamalai, who posted a long and emotive post on X, in which he slammed his
rival’s “total disregard for our country’s sovereignty” and labelled the
rocket issue a “manifestation of DMK’s commitment to China”.
“On a day when the PM is in Tamil Nadu… a DMK minister gives out a newspaper
ad with a Chinese rocket, and Kanimozhi, a senior MP, defends it, saying,
‘What is wrong in having a Chinese picture?'”
The DMK MP had said, “I don’t think India has declared China an ‘enemy
country’. The PM invited Chinese PM (Xi Jinping) and they went to Mamallapuram
(a historic temple town near Chennai). You (the BJP) don’t want to accept the
truth and so are finding reasons to divert the issue,” she said.
“DMK wants to stop the rocket-launching facility from coming here. And, for
that, they are going to any end to please their (Chinese) masters. When India
is celebrating… we have DMK glorifying China, Chinese people, and their
flag. We expect a bare minimum apology…” Mr Annamalai ranted.
With Input from Agencies
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