CHENNAI, Aug. 11 -- Tamil Nadu Assembly on Monday unanimously passed a resolution that the Tamil invocation song "Thamizh Thaai Vaazthu" penned by the late poet, scholar Manonmaniam Sundaram Pillai, should be rendered at government functions. The resolution was moved by chief minister C Joseph Vijay and was supported by the Opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), and other parties in the Assembly. "Tamil is not just a language, but also our life and emotions. The Tamil Thai Vaazhthu, upholds the diversity of entire India, must hold the primary place here in our Tamil Nadu. The Constitution of India itself grants every state the right to protect its language and culture. On the basis of that right, shouldn't the Tamil Thai Vaazhthu be given its rightful place?" Vijay said in his address. Observing that song was recognised as the official state song on December 17, 2021, the chief minister said, "Government orders stipulate that Tamil Thai Vaazhthu must mandatorily be sung at events in all educational institutions, universities, government offices, public sector undertakings, and public organisations." Vijay appealed to all members of the Legislative Assembly to set aside party differences, unite and unanimously support this resolution. DMK MLA (Govi Chezhiaan) seconding the resolution, said he supports the special resolution on behalf of the DMK. He recalled that the DMK patriarch and former chief minister M Karunanidhi issued the very first government order on March 11, 1970, requiring the Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu song to be sung in government schools, universities, government offices and public sector undertakings. AIADMKgeneral secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami said singing Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu is not an action against anyone, in fact it is the respect we pay to the Tamil language. "On behalf of the AIADMK, I wholeheartedly support this special resolution of the TVK government," Palaniswami said. The move comes in the backdrop of the advisory from the Union home ministry asking the states and Union territories to "strictly comply" with its January 28 directive that the National Song Vande Mataram be played before the National Anthem at official events....