Sanskrit invocation song; Union minister seeks to steer clear
- February 27, 2018
- UPDATED 21:50 IST
Ramanathapuram (TN) Feb 27 (PTI) Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan today sought to steer clear of the controversy over rendering of a Sanskrit invocation song at an event attended by two union ministers at IIT Madras, saying he had arrived late for the function and left before it was over. "The Vinayakar stotram had been sung at IIT Madras at the function.I was under the impression that Tamil Thai Vazthu was sung. But I was not aware of it as I arrived late for the function and left before it was over," he told reporters here. Rendering of Maha Ganapathim Manasa Smarami at the event yesterday had triggered a controversy with several opposition parties led by DMK questioning why the Tamil anthem was not sung. The song, 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.
The union minister charged that a group was conspiring against Tamils by wearing the "Tamizhan(tamil race) mask" and also against the development of Kanyakumari. Replying to a question, he said the government wished to operate a ferry service between Talaimannar in Sri Lanka and Rameswaram.
On the suicide of a 24-year old post graduate medical student hailing from Tamil Nadu at Chandigarh yesterday, he alleged that some persons were trying to divert the main issue by stating that he had taken the extreme step due to his inability to speak the local language.
"Some persons are trying to divert the main issue by making such remarks. Only after a thorough investigation will the truth be known," he said.
Dr Krishna Prasath R, doing his PG course at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh, allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself from the ceiling of his hostel room. He was a junior resident in the Department of Radio diagnosis and Imaging, at PGIMER, and hailed from Rameswaram in Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu. PTI COR SSN APR
