Vijay: Vijay’s first day as CM and a Tamil Nadu song row: What happened? | India News

This comes as the Union Cabinet approved a proposal to amend the Prevention of Defamation of National Honor Act so that ‘Vande Mataram’ is equated with the national anthem ‘Jan Gana Man’.Under the proposed amendment, insulting or obstructing the national anthem could attract the same penalties currently applicable to the national anthem, the national flag and the constitution.‘Violation of Established Traditions’The CPI – one of the parties that supported TVK in forming the government – strongly objected to the order in which the songs were played and said that “Tamil Thai Bhajthu” should retain its foremost place in government programs in the state.CPI state secretary M Veerpandian issued a letter after the swearing-in ceremony and said the order violated a long-standing convention in Tamil Nadu, where formal ceremonies begin with ‘Tamil Thai Vajthu’ and end with the national anthem.“According to the instructions issued by the Raj Bhavan, giving prominence to the song ‘Vande Mataram’ and placing Tamil third in the program schedule of the oath-taking ceremony organized by the Tamil Nadu government amounts to a violation of established conventions. The Tamil Nadu government must explain to the public who is responsible for this error. Priority Such errors should not be allowed to continue. TN Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and the pro-tem speaker should ensure that Thamizthai Wajthu is sung first and the national anthem is played at the end of tomorrow’s assembly session, which is called for the oath-taking of MLAs, as well as at all government functions and events,” Veerpandian wrote in the letter.Veerpandian also alleged that the issue has historical and ideological implications. He said that it was during the freedom struggle that it was decided that ‘Bande Mataram’ could not be performed as the national anthem as the song was dedicated to a particular deity and carried a communal religious character.“In this context, the decision allegedly taken at the behest of the Lok Bhavan to give primary position to ‘Vande Mataram’ while placing the Tamil invocation third on the agenda of the oath-taking ceremony organized by the Tamil Nadu government violates the established tradition,” he alleged.TVK distanced himselfSoon after the controversy started, TVK distanced itself, claiming that the party did not agree with the playing of the Tamil invitation song III and supported the “normal practice” followed in Tamil Nadu.Minister Adhav Arjun said, “The Tamil invocation song beginning with ‘Nirarum Kadaludutha…’ carries a century-old legacy of historical pride. The song has been declared the State Anthem by the Government of Tamil Nadu as a continuation of the aspiration to ‘spread globally…’.” It is a very proud Tamil invitation song that is first played at events in Tamil Nadu, including government functions. At the end of the program, the national anthem was played. This is normal practice; appropriate practice.”“The new government of Tamil Nadu, formed under the leadership of the Tamilga Vetri Kazhagam, has no different view on this traditional practice. Against this backdrop, today’s swearing-in ceremony of the Chief Minister and other Ministers presided over by Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar was first followed by the playing of Vande Mataram, followed by the third National Anthem. This new practice is not suitable for Tamil Nadu. In Ma Tamil Nadu, the Tamil Nadu government formed under the leadership of Tamilga Vetri Kazhagam does not agree with the third Tamil invocation song being played,” he added.He also said that in the future, the national anthem will be played at the beginning of the program and the national anthem at the end.“When we pressed the Governor on this issue, it was informed that the Governor has the duty to act as per the new circular of the Central Government. In that inevitable situation the Tamil Aabahan song is played as the third song. However, this new practice will not be followed in future. Instead, as per earlier practice, the Tamil invocation song will be played at the beginning of the program and the National Anthem at the end!” he saidMessage for BJP?The move, seen as a message to the BJP, is in line with the Union Home Ministry’s directive that mandates the playing of the full version of the national anthem at formal and official events.While the Centre’s regulations were followed in Tamil Nadu, it was not followed at the swearing-in ceremony of West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari held on Saturday.The event was historic as the BJP government was formed for the first time in Bengal and was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and others.During the event, Vijay stood by the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, who has strongly criticized the Centre’s allegations that the Congress, under Jawaharlal Nehru, omitted parts of the Vande Mataram to stoke communal tensions.