Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami on Saturday clarified that students who do not have access to television may attend school on January 16 to watch Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Pariksha pe Charcha' event in New Delhi.
He, however, said it was "not mandatory" for them to come to school on that day.
His clarification comes in the wake of a controversy over a circular reportedly issued by the school education department instructing students to attend school on that day to listen to Modi's speech on how to face examinations.
Speaking to reporters in Salem, Palaniswami said, "Only those students who do not have access to a television may attend school to watch the Prime Minister's address."
In a tweet on the issue, the Chief Minister said, "only those students who do not have television sets in their home can visit their schools if they wish to listen to the Prime Minister's speech. It is not mandatory #PongalHoliday#."
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