NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu witnessed a confrontation between chief minister MK Stalin and Governor RN Ravi during the opening session of the assembly on Monday. Governor Ravi walked out without delivering his customary address, alleging a breach of Constitutional protocol and disrespect for the National Anthem. Stalin labelled the move “childish” and indicative of the Governor’s disregard for his constitutional responsibilities.
Governor Ravi’s actions stemmed from the omission of the National Anthem at the start of the session, with only the Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu, the state anthem, being sung. In a statement, Raj Bhavan said, “The Constitution of Bharat and the National Anthem were once again insulted in the Tamil Nadu Assembly today. Respecting the National Anthem is among the first Fundamental Duty as enshrined in our Constitution.”
The Governor urged chief minister Stalin and Speaker M Appavu to ensure the National Anthem was sung, but they “cussedly refused,” prompting his departure in “deep anguish.”
Also read: Governor RN Ravi leaves House over ‘brazen disrespect’ to national anthem, Constitution
Chief minister Stalin, in a scathing response on social media, accused the Governor of undermining democratic traditions. “According to the Constitution, it is a tradition of legislative democracy for the state governor to read the government’s address at the beginning of the year! He has made it his custom to violate it. It is childish that the governor, who has cut out what was there and added what was not, has gone without reading it this time,” Stalin posted on X.
He further criticised Ravi for his repeated refusal to fulfill constitutional duties, saying, “Why should someone who is unwilling to perform their political and legal duties remain in office?”
The discord between the Governor and the state government has been a recurring theme, with Stalin alleging that Ravi has a history of altering or omitting parts of the government’s prepared addresses in previous sessions.
Leader of the House Duraimurugan echoed Stalin’s sentiments, pointing out that the practice in Tamil Nadu is to play the National Anthem at the end of the Governor’s address, not before it. “But again today, the Governor noted this as an issue. He didn’t read the address he sent to the government. His true intentions are not known,” Duraimurugan told news agency ANI.
AIADMK members disrupted proceedings, demanding action on a sexual assault case at Anna University, while Congress members staged a walkout, accusing the Governor of acting against Tamil Nadu’s interests. Marshalls had to intervene to remove AIADMK legislators from the House.
The BJP and PMK also joined the protests, walking out over the handling of the Anna University case. DMK allies accused the Governor of attempting to derail the Assembly session and diminish the state government’s authority.
