Political parties including DMK and Left parties have criticized the rendering of the national song 'Vande Mataram' during the swearing-in ceremony of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president C Joseph Vijay.
Ahead of the governor administering the oath of office to Vijay, a group of women sang the song 'Vande Mataram', followed by the national anthem and the traditional 'Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu'.
DMK leader A Raja slammed the Centre, saying the move aims to make Muslims second-class citizens and declare the nation as a 'Hindu Rashtra'.
CPI state secretary M Veerapandian said the government must explain who is responsible for the mistake, while CPI is an ally of the ruling TVK.
The Union home ministry had mandated the national song 'Vande Mataram' be played or sung before the national anthem at government functions in February.
