Tamil Nadu: Another Row Erupts Over Tamil Anthem At Govt Event, Udhayanidhi Blames ‘Technical Fault’

Tamil Nadu Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin dismissed these claims, explaining that the issue was due to a technical glitch with the microphone, not a misrendering.

A controversy erupted over the alleged incorrect singing of Tamil Nadu's state anthem at an event led by Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin.

Source : X/@Udhaystalin

A controversy has resurfaced over the singing of Tamil Nadu's state song 'Tamil Thai Valthu' during an event chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Friday. Opposition leaders alleged the anthem was incorrectly sung, with the BJP claiming that "Mother Tamil" had taught the Deputy CM a lesson. However, Udhayanidhi dismissed these claims, explaining that the issue was due to a technical glitch with the microphone, not a misrendering. "It was not sung wrongly," he clarified.

The event was held at the Secretariat, a part of the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's Fellowship Programme. Under this, 19 trainees of the first batch received certificates for completing their course in public policy and management.

According to a report by PTI, Union Minister, and BJP leader L Murugan criticised the rendition, alleging that the anthem had been sung incorrectly not once, but twice. In a statement, he claimed that the anthem’s initial rendition had flaws, leading it to be sung again from the start—only to contain more mistakes.

துணை முதலமைச்சர் உதயநிதி ஸ்டாலின் பங்கேற்ற நிகழ்ச்சியில் தவறாக பாடப்பட்ட தமிழ்த்தாய் வாழ்த்து.

என்ன பதில் சொல்லப்போகிறார் முதலமைச்சர் @mkstalin..?

பதவி விலகுவாரா @Udhaystalin..?

சென்னை தலைமைச் செயலகத்தில் நடைபெற்ற தமிழ்நாடு அரசு நிகழ்ச்சியில் துணை முதலமைச்சர் உதயநிதி ஸ்டாலின்…

— Dr.L.Murugan (@Murugan_MoS) October 25, 2024

Murugan referenced a similar incident at a Doordarshan Tamil event presided over by Governor RN Ravi, where a line was missed from the anthem, resulting in an apology from the broadcaster. 

He accused Chief Minister M K Stalin and Udhayanidhi Stalin of playing "cheap politics" over that issue by demanding the governor’s recall and criticised them for not taking responsibility for the current situation. Murugan asked whether Udhayanidhi would resign or be removed from the cabinet over the matter.

Murugan also wanted to know whether the CM and his deputy would not own up to responsibility for the state government-held event when they had blamed the Governor for the DD event.

AMMK Leader TTV Dhinakaran Lashes Out At DMK Govt

TTV Dhinakaran, leader of Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK), expressed shock over the anthem being sung incorrectly twice.  The AMMK leader accused the DMK government of hypocrisy, claiming the incident exposed their false devotion to the Tamil language. Dhinakaran questioned 'what will be the answer of the Chief Minister and Dy CM,' for the wrongful rendition as both of them had lashed out at the governor over a similar situation.

Udhayanidhi reiterated that the anthem was not sung incorrectly but blamed microphone issues for the confusion, saying the audio cut out two or three times during the performance. As a result, the anthem was restarted, and the national anthem was also sung properly. He urged journalists not to create unnecessary controversy. "Do not unnecessarily create trouble," the Dy CM said.

However, Murugan called Udhayanidhi’s explanation evasive, arguing that the CM and his deputy had politicised the earlier incident involving Governor Ravi. In a post on the social media platform 'x,' Tamil Nadu BJP stated that mother Tamil has taught Udhayanidhi Stalin a lesson.

A video clip circulating on social media shows apparent errors in the rendition, including the mispronunciation of a word and the incorrect substitution of another word by the performers, who were government employees.