"We do not issue any directions to the students. It is they who choose the invocation song and render it on such occasions," said IIT-Madras Director Bhaskar Ramamoorthy, reacting to a controversy that arose after a Sanskrit invocation song was rendered at an IIT-M function, in place of the Tamil anthem.
The incident took place during the foundation stone laying ceremony of the National Technology Centre for Ports Waterways and Coasts in the presence of Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Shipping and Water Resources Nitin Gadkari and Union Minister of State for Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan, reported PTI. The centre is being set up adjacent to the IIT Madras campus.
Commenting on the incident, Tamil politician Vaiyapuri Gopalsamy, aka Vaiko, said that it was usual practice at the start of any government function in Tamil Nadu to sing the Tamil anthem. He also alleged that the Centre was trying to impose Hindi 2and Sanskrit by various means.
According to a PTI report, normally the Tamil anthem, "Tamil Thaai Vazhthu" (invocation song of mother Tamil) is played at the start and the nation anthem towards the end of state government functions.
Both Nitin Gadkari and Pon Radhakrishnan, who were at the function, should publicly tender an apology as singing of the Tamil invocation song is the usual practice in any government function.Vaiko siad to reporters in Coimbatore
CPI-M and PMK have also condemned overlooking of the Tamil anthem, reported PTI.
The Government of Tamil Nadu should take steps to ensure that IIT Madras tenders an apology. It should also be made mandatory that only Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu is played in functions held within its premises.PMK Leader S Ramadoss.
The episode is also recieving flak on Twitter.
Others have, however, reacted to do the criticism by saying that the issue is being blown out of proportion:
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