In a sharp critique, BJP state coordinator H Raja alleged that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and the state government “ignored” both the Tamil Thai Vazhthu (State Anthem) and the National Anthem during recent government events held in Coimbatore on Tuesday. Raja claimed this oversight was a serious affront to Tamil cultural heritage and national integrity.“At two different government events attended by the Chief Minister, Ministers, and Secretaries of various departments, ignoring the Tamil Thai Vazhthu and the National Anthem is tantamount to insulting the nation’s sovereignty,” said Raja. He demanded that CM Stalin issue an unconditional public apology for what he described as an “insult” to Tamil Thai and the country.
Raja also referenced a prior controversy involving the incomplete rendering of the State Anthem at a Doordarshan event attended by Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi, using the incident to underscore what he believes is a pattern of “ignorance and insult” towards these anthems by the current administration.
The Chief Minister was in Coimbatore to inaugurate an Elcot facility valued at Rs 158 crore. During the event, Stalin also distributed Government Orders to landowners, marking a significant step for the Housing and Urban Development department. Despite these developmental initiatives, the BJP leader’s criticism centers around what he sees as a lapse in respecting symbolic aspects of Tamil and Indian identity at official gatherings.