BJP says 'happy birthday, Stalin' but in 'his favourite language' after Isro ad row

MK Stalin received a Happy Birthday message from the BJP but it was in Mandarin. Here's why.

Updated on: Mar 1, 2024, 15:22:47 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

The Chinese rocket 'mistakenly' put in an advertisement by the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government came to bite back Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin hard as the BJP Tamil Nadu on March 1 wished Stalin a happy birthday but in Mandarin, claiming that this is his favourite language. The social media handle of Tamil Nadu BJP also provided a ready draft of a Mandarin birthday wish for Stalin and urged everybody to use it if they want to wish Stalin on his birthday. on Friday.

BJP wished Stalin happy birthday in Mandarin after DMK put the photo of a Chinese rocket in an advertisement.

The Mandarin wish said: Happy birthday Stalin! Wish you a long and healthy life -- the BJP's handle clarified as the post with its innovative way to take a dig at Stalin went viral.

The advertisement mistake snowballed into a BJP versus DMK issue after Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged the advertisement on February 28 as he laid the foundation stone for a new launch complex of ISRO at Kulasekarapattinam. "They have pasted the sticker of China to take credit for ISRO launchpad in Tamil Nadu. This is an insult to our space scientists, space sector, your tax money and you (the country)," Narendra Modi said. Modi made a social media post as well and said, "DMK’s advertisement today is hilarious. They have insulted Indian science and the Indian space sector, for which they must apologise."

The apology did not come as DMK MP Kanimozhi asked whether India had declared China as an enemy country. Kanimozhi pointed out that Modi himself invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to India.

DMK minister Anitha Radhakrishnan accepted that it was a mistake that took place on the part of the designer and went unnoticed by everyone. "A small mistake has been made in the newspaper advertisement given by us regarding the setting up of a rocket launch pad in the Kulasekarapatnam area. The image of the Chinese flag in the advertisement welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi was a mistake by those who designed the advertisement, which went unnoticed by us," said the DMK leader.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.