Ever since the Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi started questioning the bills sent to him and seeking clarifications, exposing the false narrative on Dravidian –Aryan theory , on Sanatana dharma has irked the hitherto unquestionable DMK regime. He has been attending and speaking on public functions debunking various falsehoods and narratives set and spread by the Dravidian majors.
DMK has been accusing him of sitting on the bills and refused to give approval for interminably long period. The State Government re-adopted the bills seeking exemption to NEET for Tamil Nadu and Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online Gambling and Regulation of Online Games Bill, in the State assembly without carrying out suggestions and amendments.
CM Stalin said in May this year (8th) “Is he trying to rule Tamil Nadu from Raj Bhavan? People have raised doubts and queries on whether he (Governor) is trying to rule the State by sitting at the Raj Bhavan. During the British regime, 50 per cent of the powers were vested upon the Governor while the remaining was vested on the government elected by the people.”
On July 10 this year, Stalin wrote a letter to the President, in which he said “I have written to Hon’ble @rashtrapatibhvn apprising about the unconstitutional functioning of the Tamil Nadu Governor, his disregard for elected government and the state legislature, and overreach in state affairs. The Governor’s acts of delaying assent to bills, interfering with police investigations, and promoting divisive ideologies are a threat to democracy. I trust the Hon’ble President will take appropriate action to protect the spirit of our Constitution”.
CM Stalin accused him of evidently a person who bears a deep-rooted enmity against Tamil Nadu, the Tamil people, and Tamil culture” unfit for the office of Governor” and the President should “consider removing him from the high constitutional position” due to his “political bias, hasty actions, and incitement of communal hatred”.
Stalin said “Ravi was acting as the “agent of the Union government” and had violated his oath to safeguard the Constitution. He accused the Governor of acting as an “elected opponent rather than a neutral representative”. Stating that the Governor’s public expression of “political and religious views” was “highly inappropriate for someone in his position”, Stalin said such action were causing “distress and attempting to incite disrespect” towards the government. They called him RSS man and implementing its agenda in Tamil Nadu.
After Governor Ravi’s walking out of the Assembly when Chief Minister M K Stalin moved a resolution to remove the latter’s additions to his government-prepared customary address, DMK organising secretary R S Bharathi said that Ravi would not have gone home had the latter even gestured with his eyes to the MLAs. “If our leader (Stalin) had made a slight gesture with his eyes, would the governor have gone home?” he said, adding that DMK members knew what to do in such a scenario and would have hurled whatever they could catch hold of. DMK’s Murasoli has been writing very badly about the Governor personally.
Tamil Nadu Governor’s Deputy Secretary filed a complaint to Chennai Police demanding the registration of a criminal case and investigation against DDK platform speaker Shivaji Krishnamurthy who made abusive and intimidatory remarks against the state Governor RN Ravi.
Raj Bhavan has shot a letter in January this year to Chennai’s Commissioner of Police (CP) wherein, the Raj Bhawan said that a video of the ruling DMK’s leader Shivaji Krishnamurthy is going viral wherein he made abusive remarks against the Tamil Nadu Governor. ”In the video, Shivaji Krishnamurthy is using foul, abusive, defamatory and intimidatory language against the Hon’ble Governor of Tamil Nadu.”
A couple of days ago, when the Governor returned the file recommending to appoint former DGP as chairman of the Tamil Nadu Public Service commission, Bharathi said “ when the government sends a recommendation, it is proper for him to give his approval. He has rejected it purely due to politics. He should explain the reason behind his ‘ ulterior motive”. He also created caste politics by saying, Governor rejected former DGP as he is from Nadar community.
He said “ Governor Ravi is acting with the aim of pissing off the people of Tamil Nadu. He refuses to say Tamil Nadu. He refuses to say why the name was changed to Chennai. Apart from this, Tamil Nadu government has also issued an order that textbooks should not be read in universities. So he is planning to create a mess. The people of Tamil Nadu will not be watching this. There will be regime change from Kashmir to Kumari. Then we will know what position these governors will fall into. We are disciplined lot. Our leader Karuananidhi and Stalin has brought like this. If he gives nod we will proved what DMK men are. We are controlling ourselves”. He also accused him of creating a confusion following a conspiracy which the TN people will not accept it or endure it. There will be a change from Kanyakumari to Kashmir after 2024 polls. BJP will be defeated. Governor will run away from the state with baggage.
To this BJP leader Annamalai said “ it is an official communication between the Governor and the Chief Secretary. What was Bharathi’s locus standi in it? . DMK does not know how to run the government. Does he have any common sense ( mind you Bharathi is a lawyer).” Annamalai told media that Governor has the right to return TNPSC file. He warned the DMK not to mock the governor saying the black flag protests are of no use.
DMK Youth wing and the medical wing organised a dawn-to-dust fast demanding the scrapping of NEET. Sports and youth welfare Minister Udhaya Nidhi Stalin in Madurai on August 20 said “Governor has temerity and the arrogance to say that he will never give assent to the bill against NEET. His name is not RN Ravi but RSS Ravi. Let me ask the Governor, who are you? What authority do you have? You are just a postman. Are you a people’s representative? You are a postman. You carry the messages of the Chief Minister to the Union government.”
Udhaya Nidhi Stalin challenged the governor to resign from his constitutional post and chose a constitution in Tamil Nadu and contest the poll based on his RSS ideologies. He said, “Tell the people about his ideologies. We will field an ordinary DMK cadre. Can you defeat him? if so meet the people-voters. We will do whatever you say after getting the mandate from the people. ” He added, “Resign from your post. Stand elections in any constituency, go meet the people and tell them about your ideology, they will throw slippers at you. If you win, then I’ll listen to you and even support NEET”. Ramachandran, a high court advocate from Kondithoppu area, lodged a-complaint against Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin’s remarks unsavoury remarks against governo Ravi at the Esplanade police station on August 24.
Tamil Nadu BJP Chief K Annmalai threw a counter challenge, saying he will leave politics if Udhayanidhi Stalin resigned as an MLA and passed the UPSC Prelims exam or a TNPSC Group 4 exam without any form of fixing.
Stalin said that the Governor of the state, RN Ravi, is “nothing but a postman” and that “he would not seek Ravi’s approval over the NEET Bill.”
In August last, there were posters in Chennai, Coimbatore and other areas which said “Get out, Mr RN Ravi, Please remember you are just a post man,” the poster read, and at the bottom of the poster, it says ‘Pollachi Town DMK’.
The Raj Bhavan on August 24 refuted Member of Parliament Dhayanidhi Maran’s allegation that governor R N Ravi had used the state government’s money in a family function held in Ooty and clarified that the expenses were borne by the governor. Talking to media he said “He (Ravi) is a governor. How did he organise his daughter’s wedding at the Raj Bhavan in Ooty?” Maran asked. “What right does he have to organise the event at the expense of the state government? We could also raise that question.”
Raj bhavan in statement said “Irresponsible and mischievous statement attributed to the MP casting aspersions on the …Governor is highly condemnable. It said “The entire expense for the event, including board and lodging for guests, hiring charges of vehicles, catering, including tea and coffee, lighting, flowers and floral decorations, service personnel, etc., was borne by the governor. Food bills for the governor and family members are raised every month and though entitled, the same are borne by the governor”.
The Raj Bhavan statement also said the governor hosted a family event at Ooty from February 21 to 23, 2022 and all the guests of the governor stayed in private hotels and no one stayed in Raj Bhavan. Besides, private vehicles were hired for the use of not only guests but even for the family members of the governor. No government vehicle was used at all.
“Private catering was done, and the Raj Bhavan kitchen was not used at all, not even for tea or coffee. The lighting arrangements for the entire event were done through a private source, not Raj Bhavan. Even flowers for floral decorations were privately purchased from the market. The workforce for the entire event was sourced privately. No Raj Bhavan staff was used.”
Political commentator Bala Gauthaman said “ Dayanidhi Maran should not forget the past. His father Murasoli Maran was a minister without portfolio in Union government led by PM Vajpayee. His entire medical expenses in both abroad and in India were borne by the government till his demise. After the funeral (PM Vajpayee attended in Chennai) the DMK broke the alliance with NDA.
The multi billionaire Kalanidhi Maran of Sun TV group and Dayanidhi Maran never thought of defraying the same running into several crores of poor men’s money. CBI had on December 9, 2016, filed a charge sheet against Dayanidhi Maran and his brother Kalanithi among others, for allegedly using 764 high-speed data lines at at the former’s residence which were used by Sun TV channel, causing a loss of Rs 1.78 crore to the exchequer. The high-end telecommunication facilities were illegally under the service category for which bills were not raised for 2004-’07. Using his political clout and money power, he ensured the case do not come up for hearing and filing frivolous petitions to stall the trial. He has no moral right to talk about corruption and public probity. First let him see his image in the mirror before pointing a finger at others”.
There was a security breach when he visited Mayilauthurai last year, when DMK allies thrown iron flat rods, stones and slippers which narrowly missed his convoy.
The DMK does not enter into a political fight with Annamalai as they do not wish to give him undue importance. They always traget the Governor who has function as per set of rules which are laid down in the constitution. DMK is of the view that the more it will attack the constitutional head, it will be able to achieve its goal of giving sleepless nights to both BJP and the governor and also tactfully divert public attention from its all round failure, fiascos, faux paus, gaffe, corruption, irregularities, inefficiency in governess etc” says journalist Praveen.
