State song be sung first at all events: Tamil Nadu Assembly

Chennai: The Tamil Nadu assembly on Monday unanimously adopted a special resolution reaffirming that "Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu" must be sung first at all functions in the state, including official, educational and institutional events, before any other song.

TN chief minister C Joseph Vijay declared that the TVK-led government would never compromise on cultural and linguistic rights. "Tamil is not only a language but also our life and emotions," he said while addressing the house.

The resolution comes days after the Centre's recent push for "Vande Mataram." The union home affairs ministry issued a fresh advisory instructing regional governments to enforce its January 28 directive which ordered states to "strictly comply" with performing the national song prior to the national anthem during official functions.


Vijay said Tamil, one of the world's oldest classical languages, and Tamil civilisation deserved to be recorded with pride by the assembly.

"Singing the Tamil Thaai Vazhthu is not against the political system or India's unity. On the contrary, it reflects the nation's high principle of unity in diversity. There's no need to make this demand of singing the Tamil Thaai Vazhthu first into a political debate," he said.