New Delhi: TVK chief Vijay was sworn in as Tamil Nadu chief minister on Sunday in a massive show of star power as Thalapathy’s swearing-in ceremony was attended by thousands. However, the highlight of the event was the program that started with Vande Mataram instead of the state’s official song Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu as is the usual practice.The move is seen as a message to the Bharatiya Janata Party and is in line with India’s home ministry’s directive that the full version of the national anthem must be played at official functions and government functions. Vijay’s swearing-in ceremony began with the Vande Mataram song, followed by the national anthem and then Tamil. Standing next to Vijay was Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, who strongly criticized the Centre’s allegations that the Congress, during the Jawaharlal Nehru era, omitted the Vande Mataram passage to incite communal conflict.
Ironically, the same practice was not followed at the swearing-in ceremony of West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday. The event was historic as it was the first time a BJP government was formed in Bengal and was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and others.
Earlier this week, the cabinet approved a proposal to amend the Prevention of Insult to National Honor Act to make the national anthem “Vande Mataram” equal to the national anthem “Jana Gana Mana”. Currently, the law provides for imprisonment, fine or both in cases involving insulting the Indian flag, the Indian Constitution or obstructing the singing of the national anthem. Vande Mataram will also be bound by these regulations, making violation of them a cognizable offence, according to the proposal passed at a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The move coincides with the country marking the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram.
