Chennai:

A fiery controversy has erupted after the image of the Chinese flag on a rocket featured prominently in a poster of a newspaper advertisement praising the construction of a second launch pad for India’s space agency ISRO at Kulasekarapatinam in Tamil Nadu. NDTV was told that the ad was initiated by Tamil Nadu’s Animal Husbandry Minister Anita Radhakrishnan, who did so in her personal capacity.

Mr Radhakrishnan is not available for comment, but Thoothukudi MP Kanimozhi (in whose constituency the ISRO facility will be built) has defended his party. He acknowledged the mistake – which was attributed to the artwork designer – and said that the issue did not deserve the response it has received.

The poster shows Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself – who was in the state this week to drum up support ahead of the general elections, where his Bharatiya Janata Party has traditionally struggled for votes – and Chief Minister MK Stalin with- Were together. With a rocket in the background.

The source of controversy is that rocket – its red nose has four gold stars to the right of a larger fifth star. This is the same symbol that represents the Chinese national flag.

Mr Modi and the BJP immediately attacked the mistake.

The PM hit out at the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, which defeated the BJP (then in alliance with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) in the 2019 general and 2021 state elections.

Read | “Crossed limits”: PM hits out at DMK over “China rocket” ad row

“DMK doesn’t work and takes false credit. They stick their stickers on our plans. But now they have crossed the limit… They stick China’s sticker to take credit for 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.”

Read | Rocket startups are excited as India gets its second space port

“Now is the time to punish the DMK for their deeds,” the Prime Minister thundered.

Mr Modi’s sharp attacks have been heightened by BJP state unit chief K Annamalai, who made a long and emotional post on Twitter in which he criticized his rival’s “complete disregard for the sovereignty of our country” and the rocket issue. Dubbed “an expression of expression”. DMK’s commitment towards China.

This advertisement given by DMK Minister Thiru Anitha Radhakrishnan to leading Tamil dailies today is a revelation of DMK’s commitment to China and their complete disregard for the sovereignty of our country.

DMK, the party that raises voice against corruption, has always been desperate to stick stickers… pic.twitter.com/g6CeTzd9TZ

– K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) 28 February 2024

“The day the Prime Minister is in Tamil Nadu… a DMK minister publishes a newspaper advertisement with a Chinese rocket, and Kanimozhi, a senior MP, defends it, saying, ‘What’s 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 the Chinese PM (Xi Jinping) and he went to Mamallapuram (a historic temple town near Chennai). You ( BJP) They do not want to accept the truth and hence are looking for reasons to divert the issue.”

“The DMK wants to stop the rocket-launching facility from coming here. And, for this, they can go to any extent to please their (Chinese) masters. When India is celebrating… we have It is the DMK which is glorifying China, the Chinese people.” Their flag. We expect a minimum apology…” Mr. Annamalai said.

with inputs from agencies

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