Chennai: In a major broadside against the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged a newspaper advertisement bearing an emblem that marks the Chinese national flag, and asked people to punish a “visionless” DMK.
The image of a rocket bearing the Chinese flag appeared in the advertisement the DMK issued to hail the inauguration of ISRO’s second launch pad in the state. The rocket is placed between prominent images of Modi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin with local Thoothukudi MP Kanimozhi and Stalin’s son Udayanidhi also featured.
Questioning the selection of a Chinese symbol on ISRO rocket, the PM said, “The DMK is one party that does no work but is always on the forefront of claiming false, undue credit. Who does not know that some people paste their stickers on our schemes? But now, they have crossed all limits.”
The PM was in the port city of Thoothukudi to lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects, including a new ISRO launch complex — all valued at Rs 17,300 crore. The ISRO complex at Kulasekarapattinam near Thoothukudi costs Rs 986 crore. The facility will aid 24 launches a year.
“Crossing all limits, they (DMK) have pasted a Chinese sticker to take credit for the ISRO launch pad in Tamil Nadu. DMK leaders are unable to see anything and you all know what visionless people are called,” a furious PM said with Kanimozhi on stage.
Modi added that “time had come to punish a visionless DMK”, even as he slammed the ruling party of Tamil Nadu for being “unable to see the progress of India and the Indian space sector”. The PM told people that DMK had insulted them by using the taxes they paid to put a Chinese flag in an image that should have only celebrated Indian space science.
“They have insulted the Indian space sector, our space scientists, you and your tax money,” said PM as he wrapped up a two-day visit to Tamil Nadu where saffron forces are eyeing a major boost in the upcoming Lok Sabha poll. Currently, the BJP has no Lok Sabha MP among Tamil Nadu’s 39.
PM Modi said, “In the last 10 years, the Centre has given more funds to Tamil Nadu than in the past. When Modi works, he works for everyone. Those who looted Tamil Nadu for decades are now scared of the growing power of the BJP. They want to save their power by lying, dividing people and making people fight amongst each other.”
