Youth Congress protests at Governor's residence over Vande Mataram protocol — demands Tamil Thai Vazhthu must come first

Youth Congress members staged a protest outside the Tamil Nadu Governor's residence (Raj Bhavan) on Sunday over the Vande Mataram protocol controversy.

Protesters demanded that Governor Rajendra Arlekar stop ordering "Vande Mataram" to be played before "Tamil Thai Vazhthu" at state government swearing-in functions.

They held placards and raised slogans before police moved them away from the premises.

The Youth Congress called the Governor's continued insistence on the Vande Mataram protocol an "assault on Tamil identity" and demanded a written assurance that future official functions would follow Tamil Nadu's established convention of opening with Tamil Thai Vazhthu.

The Vande Mataram controversy began at CM Vijay's cabinet oath ceremony earlier this month and has since drawn condemnation from DMK, MDMK, Vaiko, and now Congress.