Amidst Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Tamil Nadu, a controversy erupted surrounding an advertisement published by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader related to ISRO's Satish Dhawan Space Centre on Wednesday. The controversy stemmed from Anitha R Radhakrishnan, a DMK minister, allegedly sharing a poster depicting India’s space program prominently featuring a Chinese 'satellite'.
Taking to X, K Annamalai said, "This advertisement by DMK Minister Thiru Anita Radhakrishnan to leading Tamil dailies today is a manifestation of DMK’s commitment to China & their total disregard for our country’s sovereignty."
"DMK, a party fighting high on corruption, has been desperate to paste stickers ever since the announcement of ISRO’s second launch pad in Kulasekarapatinam was released," he said.
Annamalai said that the amount of desperation of DMK only proved their attempt to bury their past misdeeds. However, he said that they must be reminded that DMK was the reason why Satish Dhawan Space Centre was in Andhra Pradesh and not Tamil Nadu.
Annamalai said, "When the 1st launch pad of ISRO was conceptualised, TN was the first choice of ISRO. TN CM Thiru Annadurai, who could not attend the meeting because of severe shoulder pain, deputed Mathiyazhagan, one of his ministers, for the meeting."
"ISRO officials were kept waiting for a long, and Mathiyazhagan was finally brought to the meeting in an “inebriated state” & was incoherent throughout the meeting. And, this was the treatment our country’s space programme received 60 years ago," he said.
Responding to the controversy, DMK MP Kanimozhi said, "I don't know from where the person who did the artwork, found this picture from. I don't think India has declared China as an emeny country. I have seen that the Prime Minister has invited the Chinese PM and they have gone to Mahabalipuram. Just because you do not want to accept the truth, you are finding reasons to divert the issue."