Two key allies of the ruling DMK have opposed the participation of Israeli defence manufacturers at the two-day Aerospace and Defence Meeting (ADM) beginning in Chennai on Tuesday (October 7, 2025), accusing the Jewish state of carrying out a genocide in Gaza, which has claimed more than 65,000 lives, including children.
In separate statements to the media, CPI State Secretary M Veerapandiyan and Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK) president MH Jawahirullah, MLA have urged the state government to ban the entry of Israel in the event. They also referred to the stand taken by Chief Minister MK Stalin that the world could not turn a blind eye to the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
Referring to reports that the Israeli government and defence firms of the Jewish state are participating in the programme, the CPI leader said at a time when Israel is facing the heat from countries around the world, Tamil Nadu should not host the Israeli delegation. He also appealed to the Chief Minister and the organiser of the two-day event, Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) to make an announcement in this regard.
With Tamil Nadu having one of the two Defence Industrial Corridors in the country, the state government is holding the event targeting Rs 75,000 crore investment and a 50 percent contribution to the country’s military hardware production by 2032. Tamil Nadu, expecting a 50 percent share in investments in this sector and the event would witness participation of over 300 companies and 1000 delegates, official sources said adding that Airbus, Boeing and Dassault as well as Tata, BEL and HAL are among the leading firms taking part in the programme.
The ADM is held under the auspices of the TN Defence Industrial Corridor, set up as a premier platform for propelling self-reliance, indigenisation, global supply chain integration in aerospace and defence.