Chennai, Aug. 6 -- A fresh row has erupted in Tamil Nadu over the protocol followed at official events, with 21 Members of Parliament writing to Governor R N Ravi Arlekar, urging restoration of the convention of rendering 'Tamizh Thai Vaazhthu' at the beginning of university and government functions.

In a letter dated August 5, the MPs referred to the sequence followed at the 33rd convocation of Manonmaniam Sundaranar University in Tirunelveli on July 28. According to the letter, instructions received from Raj Bhavan led to the event beginning with Vande Mataram, followed by the National Anthem, while 'Tamizh Thai Vaazhthu' was rendered third.

The MPs said placing the state anthem third was felt by many in Tamil Nadu as "an unintended s...