Kanchi Acharya lands in row over State song

Minister K. Pandiarajan defends seer; Stalin, VCK and CPI(M) condemn

Minister for Tamil Official Language and Tamil Culture K. Pandiarajan said on Wednesday that Kanchi Acharya Vijayendra Saraswati should have stood while the State song was played during an event on Tuesday.

“In my opinion, he should have stood up. I do not know why he did not stand up; maybe he assumed it was not right to do so halfway as he was in deep meditation,” said Mr. Pandiarajan.

Mr. Pandiarajan termed the controversy as one without substance and said that it took the focus away from the book which was released at the event. “To me, he did not seem to be refusing to stand up. It is convention to stand up for the

Tamil Thai Vazhthu . Everyone says he was in deep meditation; even I think the same,” he said.

Lyricist Vairamuthu, recently embroiled in controversy over his comments on Andal, took to Twitter to express his views. “The national anthem respects the motherland. The

Tamil Thai Vazhthu respects the mother tongue. Both are equally deserving of our respects,” he tweeted.

Apology demand

DMK working president M.K. Stalin said: “I heard that the incident happened during the launch of a book written by BJP leader H. Raja’s father. During the

Tamizh Thai Vaazthu , even the Governor stood up. But Vijayendra Saraswati did not stand up. Why was he not in meditation when the National Anthem was being played? A wrong happened and they are trying to hide this by spreading such information,” Mr. Stalin said.

The VCK demanded that the State government file a case. In a statement, founder-chairman of the party Thol. Thirumavalavan condemned Vijayendra Saraswati’s action and demanded an apology from him. The CPI(M)-affiliated Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers’ and Artists’ Association said that Vijayendra Saraswati should apologise for insulting Tamil language.