Ruling party’s allies roundly condemn Governor’s actions in Assembly, but AIADMK and BJP back him

Chennai

The ruling DMK’s allies as well as the PMK criticised Governor R.N. Ravi for skipping parts of the speech prepared by the Tamil Nadu government while addressing the Assembly on Monday. However, the AIADMK and the BJP came out in support of the Governor.

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K.S. Alagiri said Mr. Ravi had been consistently exceeding the powers bestowed upon the office of the Governor ever since he was appointed to the post, and added that he shirked his responsibility by refusing to read out portions of the speech prepared by the State government.

“It is the duty and responsibility of the Governor to read out the speech prepared by the State government. Refusing to read out certain words and including certain words is a blatant breach of law and traditions. Instead of calling this a challenge to the Tamil Nadu government, [I would say] this is a threat to the Constitution itself. The Tamil Nadu Congress Committee condemns it,” he said.

Mr. Alagiri wondered whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi would accept a similar act by President Droupadi Murmu, and said the Governor’s actions had forced the hand of democratic parties to protest until he leaves his post.

VCK founder and Chidambaram MP Thol. Thirumavalavan said Mr. Ravi had been consistently making comments that contradicted the positions and policies of the State government. He said the Governor’s actions were a part of a conspiracy to create political confusion in the State.

Mr. Thirumavalavan said the party would launch a protest on January 13 by laying siege to the Raj Bhavan to demand that the Governor be recalled.   

“While delivering his speech, containing references to the State government’s schemes and policies, Mr. Ravi excluded some parts [of the speech] and included new ones. In particular, the term ‘Dravida Model’ was excluded. He also refused to utter the names of Thanthai Periyar, Annal Ambedkar, Peruthalaivar Kamarajar and Perarignar Anna. He also excluded words such as equality, social justice, women’s empowerment and Dravidam. This act not only belittles the Assembly, but also breaches the boundaries of the powers that have been bestowed upon him by the Constitution. There is no record of such instances of Governors acting in this manner in Tamil Nadu’s history,” he said.