Political parties including the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Left parties have criticized the rendition of the patriotic song ‘Vande Mataram’ during the swearing-in ceremony of Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) President C Joseph Vijay by Governor Rajendra Arlikar on Sunday.
Before the governor administered oath to Vijay, a group of women sang ‘Vande Mataram’. The national anthem was then played followed by the traditional anthem ‘Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu’.
Read also:Vande Mataram cannot be treated at par with the national anthem: Owaisi
DMK leader and former Union Minister A. He appealed to the Center and said, “As a person who has observed the behavior of the BJP unionists.” [Bharatiya Janata Party] Government For the past 11 years, I have been fulfilling the dream of the song “Vande Mataram” mentioned by the Prime Minister. This dream is to make Muslims second class citizens and declare this nation as a “Hindu Rashtra”.
CPI state minister M Veerapandian said that giving first position to the song “Vande Mataram” and putting “Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu” in third position is an act that goes against tradition. “The Tamil Nadu government must explain to the people responsible for this mistake.” He said.
“TVK should ensure that Tamil film Thaai Vaazhthu gets the first position. This mistake should not be repeated,” he said.
The CPI is an ally of the ruling TVK party.
In February, the Union Home Ministry ordered that the patriotic song “Vande Mataram” be played or sung before the national anthem at government events.
It also established, for the first time, detailed protocols for singing the national song, and specified that its version, consisting of six syllables, 3 minutes and 10 seconds, be performed on occasions such as raising the tricolor flag, the president’s arrival at events, before and after her speeches and addresses to the nation, and before and after the governors’ arrival and speeches.
