DMK Minister Publishes Advertisement On ISRO's Spaceport With Chinese Rocket Image, BJP Tamil Nadu Chief Annamalai Hits Out

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Minister Thiru Anita Radhakrishnan's advertisement showcasing the Chinese flag on a rocket was published in leading Tamil dailies today (27 February).

While the advertisement was on the occasion of the foundation laying of the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) second spaceport in Kulasekarapattinam, it has created troubles for Tamil Nadu's ruling party.

Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Tamil Nadu president K Annamalai called it "a manifestation of DMK’s commitment to China and their total disregard for our country’s sovereignty."

He also said that DMK is desperate to take credit for ISRO’s second launch pad so that it can cover its "past misdeeds," recalling incidents during DMK leader Thiru Annadurai's Chief Ministership.

He alleged that it was because of DMK that the Satish Dhawan Space Centre is in Andhra Pradesh and not in Tamil Nadu, despite the southernmost state being the ISRO's first choice.

According to Annamalai, TN CM Thiru Annadurai could not attend the meeting because of severe shoulder pain and hence deputed Mathiyazhagan, one of his ministers, for the meeting with ISRO officials.

"ISRO officials were kept waiting for a long, and Mathiyazhagan was finally brought to the meeting in an “inebriated state” and was incoherent throughout the meeting," Annamalai alleged.

He added, "This was the treatment our country’s space programme received 60 years ago. DMK hasn't changed much and has only become worse!"

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of Kulasekarapattinam spaceport. The project spread over 2,233 acres costs Rs 950 crore and is expected to be commissioned in two years.

The advertisement published by the DMK Minister features big pictures of PM Modi and Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin and a rocket with the Chinese flag between them. It also features the CM's son Udhayanidhi Stalin.

Thiru Anita R Radhakrishnan is the minister for fisheries, fishermen's welfare and animal husbandry in the Stalin government. He was in AIADMK earlier and also served as a minister in the Jayalalithaa cabinet.