Time to punish ‘visionless’ DMK: PM Modi in Tamil Nadu

New Delhi, February 28

In a major broadside against the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday flagged a newspaper advertisement bearing an emblem that marks the Chinese national flag, and asked people to punish a “visionless” DMK.

Row over Chinese flag

What is wrong in having a Chinese picture? I don’t think India has declared China an enemy country. The PM invited the Chinese leader and they went to Mamallapuram. You are finding ways to divert attention from issue. — 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.

Hailing the expanding space sector, Prime Minister slammed the DMK for the ad.

“Crossing all limits, they (DMK) have pasted a Chinese sticker to take credit for the ISRO launch pad in Tamil Nadu. DMK leaders obviously 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 which 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.