Rendering of a Sanskrit invocation song at an event attended by two Union Ministers at the IIT-Madras on Monday triggered a controversy with several opposition parties led by DMK questioning why the Tamil anthem was not sung.'Maha Ganapathim Manasa Smarami', penned by late composer Muthuswami Dikshithar was sung at the start of the foundation stone laying ceremony of National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways and Coasts, to be set up along with IIT Madras.
Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Shipping and Water Resources Nitin Gadkari and Union Minister of State for Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan participated at IIT-M function.
Terming it as an "insult" to the Tamil anthem in Tamil Nadu itself, DMK Working President M K Stalin alleged the singing of the Sanskrit song appeared to be a "deliberate attempt to sideline" Tamil.
MDMK leader Vaiko claimed it was the usual practice at the start of any government function in Tamil Nadu to sing the Tamil anthem and alleged that the Centre was trying to impose Hindi and Sanskrit by various means.
As the controversy surfaced, IIT-Madras Director Bhaskar Ramamoorthy, who was present at the event, clarified the institution does not issue any directions to students for a particular song to be sung. "We do not issue any directions to the students. It is they who choose the invocation song and render it on such occasions," he said.