Calling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leaders ‘blind’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday slammed Tamil Nadu’s ruling party over a state minister’s ad for a new Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) spaceport featuring an image of a rocket with the Chinese flag symbol.
The Prime Minister accused the DMK leaders of “belittling” India’s achievements — particularly its space programme and said the ad was “an insult to scientists”.
For the unversed, DMK minister Anitha R Radhakrishnan stirred a major controversy on Wednesday as he shared a poster ahead of ISRO’s second facility launch but linked it with China to ‘demean’ India’s achievements in the space sector. The poster purportedly displayed a Chinese missile, along with pictures of CM Stalin and Prime Minister.
Addressing a rally in Tamil Nadu’s Tirunelveli, PM Modi also accused DMK of not cooperating with Central schemes and criticised it over walking out in the Parliament during a discussion on the Ayodhya Shri Ram temple.
“But they have crossed all limits this time,” he said, adding, “They have put a sticker of China to take away credit from ISRO.”
He lambasted the DMK for its reckless behaviour on issues of national importance and accused it of ‘glorifying’ China and insulting Indian scientists.
“DMK’s penchant for taking credit is not new. They paste their own posters on the Central government’s scheme. This time, they have crossed all the limits. They pasted stickers of China on ISRO advertisements for taking credit on the launch of the second facility,” said PM Modi.
He said DMK was not ready to see the development of India and accused the MK Stalin-led party of never wanting to boast of the country’s success in the space sector to the world.
He further tore into DMK dispensation for using taxpayers’ money to further their political interests.
“First they are not ready to accept ISRO’s achievements and feel happy about it. Rather than sharing it with the world, they insulted our scientists and space sector engineers with the money garnered from taxpayers,” he said.
“Now, it is the time to punish the DMK for its deeds,” PM Modi urged people.
He also slammed DMK and its ally Congress, alleging they created a rift among people and criticised them for dynasty politics.
“Tamil Nadu’s connection with Shri Ram is well-known. Before the January 22 consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, I visited different temples, including in Dhanushkodi (in TN). The entire country was happy that the temple was coming up after so many years. A related matter came up in the Parliament but the DMK MPs ran away,” Modi said.
“DMK again proved how much it hates your faith,” the PM said.
He charged the DMK and Congress of coming up with ‘innovative ideas’ to create rift among people, society “whereas we see everyone as family.”
Asserting his party will win over 400 seats in the coming Lok Sabha elections, he said, “even the Opposition is saying the BJP and NDA” will win more seats this time.
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