M Veerapandiyan and Vijay
NEW DELHI: CPI state secretary M Veerapandiyan on Sunday said that the ‘Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu’ (state song of Tamil Nadu) must be accorded the foremost place in the protocol of government ceremonies.In a letter issued after the swearing-in ceremony of Tamil Nadu chief minister Vijay, Veerapandiyan objected to the order in which songs were played during the event. The ceremony began with national song ‘Vande Mataram’, followed by the national anthem ‘Jana Gana Mana’, while the ‘Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu’ was played third.The CPI leader said the order violated long-standing convention in Tamil Nadu, where official functions traditionally begin with the ‘Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu’ and conclude with the national anthem.”As per instructions issued by the Raj Bhavan, giving precedence to the song ‘Vande Mataram’ and placing Tamil in the third position in the programme schedule of the swearing-in ceremony organised by the Tamil Nadu government amounts to a violation of established convention. The Tamil Nadu government must explain to the public who was responsible for this lapse. Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam must ensure that the Thamizhthai Vaazhthu is accorded primacy. Such an error must not be allowed to continue. TN Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and the Pro-tem Speaker are to ensure that the Thamizhthai Vaazhthu is sung first and the National Anthem played at the conclusion during tomorrow’s Assembly session, convened for the swearing-in of MLAs, as well as at all government functions and ceremonies,” Veerapandiyan wrote in the letter.Also read: How Tamil Nadu CM Vijay used swearing in event to send message to BJPVeerapandiyan further alleged that the issue had historical and ideological implications. He said that during the freedom struggle itself, it had been decided that ‘Vande Mataram’ could not serve as the national anthem because the song was dedicated to a specific deity and carried a sectarian religious character.”In this context, the decision, allegedly taken under the directives of Lok Bhavan, to accord the primary position to ‘Vande Mataram’ while placing the Tamil invocation third in the agenda of the swearing-in ceremony organised by the Tamil Nadu government constitutes a violation of established tradition,” he alleged.”The Tamil Nadu government must provide a public explanation identifying those responsible for this error,” he said.Veerapandiyan further urged TVK to ensure that the ‘Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu’ is restored to its rightful place in future events and such an error is not repeated.The controversy erupted during Vijay’s swearing-in ceremony which drew massive crowds and several prominent political leaders.’Vande Mataram’ was played in line with the Union home ministry’s recent directive making it compulsory to play the full version at formal and government events. The development comes as the Centre marks the 150th anniversary of the national song.Earlier this week, the Union Cabinet approved a proposal to amend the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act to place ‘Vande Mataram’ on par with the national anthem ‘Jana Gana Mana’. Under the proposed amendment, insults or obstruction related to the national song could attract the same penalties currently applicable to the national anthem, the national flag and the Constitution.Despite TVK not winning a majority on its own in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly, Vijay secured the support of the Congress, VCK, CPI, CPI(M) and IUML, enabling him to cross the majority mark of 118 MLAs and form the government.
