PM Modi lashes out at DMK over 'China flag' row in spaceport advertisement
Tirunelveli, Feb 28: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday strongly criticised the DMK in Tamil Nadu for being 'oblivious' to the nation's achievements in space sector, after a newspaper advertisement by a state minister belonging to the party over a spaceport kicked up a row over what the BJP claimed had a 'Chinese flag'.
Modi alleged the DMK has disregarded India's success in space technology and demanded that the Dravidian party apologise for featuring China in its advertisement in a daily.
The ruling DMK said BJP's accusation was only political in nature.
Addressing a BJP rally here, PM Modi alleged the DMK regime does not work but only took false credit and it affixed its 'stickers' on Central schemes.
"Now they have crossed the limit. They have pasted the sticker of China to take credit for ISRO launchpad in Tamil Nadu. This is an an insult to our space scientists, space sector, your tax money and you (the country)," he said.
The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for a new launch complex of ISRO at Kulasekarapattinam near Thoothukudi, which is worth about Rs 986 crore and the facility is set to accommodate 24 launches per year.
The new complex includes 35 facilities, and features mobile launch structure (MLS) with checkout computers marking a significant stride in enhancing space exploration capabilities.
The Tamil Nadu BJP alleged that in an advertisement in a daily the DMK used 'Chinese flag' and 'Chinese language' to claim credit for bringing the new ISRO complex at Kulasekarapattinam, located near Thoothukudi in the state.
The PM said Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai has spoken about it in his address.
The advertisement by Minister Anita Radhakrishnan featured a rocket as its backdrop. A rocket, in the middle, was embossed with an image, that looked like a Chinese flag. The photographs of PM Modi and Chief Minister M K Stalin formed a prominent part of the advertisement, published in DMK's Tamil mouthpiece 'Murasoli'.
Against this background, Modi alleged DMK is not prepared to hail India's progress and the nation's achievements in space technology.
The DMK leaders could not 'see anything', he said apparently referring to the nation's milestone events in space technology.
"They gave this advertisement from the tax that you pay. It didn't have India's space success, they didn't want to highlight it before Tamil Nadu, before the world."
The advertisement did not have the images of Bharath's (ISRO) space programmes and they could not feature India's flag on it, he slammed.
This is the time to punish those who 'cannot see' and are oblivious to the nation's achievements, he added.
The PM said in a post on X: "DMK's advertisement today is hilarious. They have insulted Indian science and the Indian space sector, for which they must apologise."
Responding to the allegation, DMK spokesperson J Constandine Ravindran said the BJP's accusation was only political in nature and it does not reflect facts.
The objective of the advertisement was to show that India has succeeded in space technology, on a par with developed nations that have already made accomplishments in space sector.
In furtherance of the objective, the advertisement has multiple rockets as its background featuring shades, flags or logos of nations that have succeeded in space technology.
India is featured among them, showing the nation's achievements in the field of space technology on a par with countries that have already succeeded, he said.
Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai alleged on X: "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 flighing (sic) high on corruption, has been desperate to paste stickers ever since the announcement of ISRO's second launch pad in Kulasekarapatinam was released."
Hon PM demanded an apology from the DMK for insulting Indian scientists and ISRO by releasing a hilarious advertisement of space rockets with a Chinese flag and symbol. The PM, while condemning the DMK leaders for toiling to make their progenies the next leaders of the party,… pic.twitter.com/45T265XLZm
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) February 28, 2024
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Kerala reels under heavy rains; IMD issues red alert in three districts
Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 26 (PTI): Heavy rains since Friday night have caused widespread damage across several parts of Kerala, raising water levels in rivers and dams and uprooting trees, which resulted in one death and injuries to several persons.
It also prompted the India Meteorological Department, on Saturday evening, to upgrade its rain alert status in Ernakulam, Idukki, and Thrissur districts from 'orange' to 'red'.
It also issued an 'orange alert' for Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod districts, and a 'yellow alert' for the remaining three.
A 'red alert' indicates "heavy to extremely heavy" rainfall of over 20 cm in 24 hours. An 'orange alert' denotes "very heavy" rainfall of 11 to 20 cm, while a 'yellow alert' signals "heavy rain" between 6 and 11 cm.
The IMD said rains are likely to persist over the next five days, accompanied by strong winds reaching speeds of 50-60 kmph till Sunday.
Fishing has been advised against along the Kerala-Karnataka-Lakshadweep coasts until July 30 due to rough seas and strong winds.
In Kozhikode, overnight rains and strong winds uprooted trees and caused extensive damage to houses and vehicles, prompting shifting of several families to safer places. However, no one was injured.
Power lines and electric poles were brought down, disrupting supply in many parts of the district.
Similar incidents were reported from Kottayam, Palakkad, and Kannur districts.
In Kannur, one person died when a tree fell on his house. In similar incidents in the district, few others were injured.
In Kottayam, besides the damage to homes due to uprooted trees, the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) suffered a loss of Rs 2.43 crore due to several electric poles and power cables being brought down by the strong winds and rain in the district on Friday and Saturday.
In Kuttanad and Upper Kuttanad regions of Alappuzha district, the heavy rains resulted in inundation of several low-lying areas, including roads and homes, and rise in river waters to dangerous levels.
With water levels rising in their catchment areas, shutters of the Banasura Sagar dam in Wayanad, the Aliyar dam in Palakkad and Kakkayam Dam in Kozhikode district have been raised to release excess water.
Residents living downstream have been advised to stay vigilant.
The Irrigation Design and Research Board (IDRB) and Central Water Commission (CWC) have issued alerts for several rivers that have "risen dangerously", including the Manimala, Achankovil, and Pamba rivers in Pathanamthitta; Vamanapuram in Thiruvananthapuram; Pallikkal in Kollam, Muvattupuzha in Ernakulam and Thodupuzha in Idukki.
People residing along riverbanks have been urged to exercise caution and avoid entering or crossing the water bodies.
Meanwhile, the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has warned of possible sea surges and high waves reaching 2.8 to 3.4 metres along the Kasaragod and Alappuzha coasts till 8.30 pm on Sunday.
Fishermen and coastal residents have been advised to remain alert, it added.
