CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker M. Appavu on November 28, 2025, made a derogatory remark at Governor RN Ravi, calling him a “terrorist” and alleging that he was attempting to bring terrorism into the state.
Appavu made these comments while responding to the Governor’s recent observations suggesting a decline in Tamil Nadu’s law-and-order situation.
Reacting sharply to Governor RN Ravi’s critical remarks on the Dravidian ideology at an event here on November 25 (Tuesday), DMK leader and Minister for natural resources S Regupathy said Ravi, who is “slandering” Tamil Nadu, should have been sent to Kamalalayam (TN BJP headquarters) instead of Raj Bhavan. Governor Ravi said “Dravidam is imaginary, Biharis were threatened in Tamil Nadu, rights of linguistic minorities here are denied. These were his baseless allegations. Isn’t Governor Ravi aware that the word Dravidam is also featured in our national anthem?”
Governor Ravi said, “Tamil Nadu politics was not regionalism, but it was Tamil “exceptionalism,” which showed hatred against other languages including those belonging to Dravidian family like Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam and not just against Hindi. Tamil Nadu politics is not regionalism, it is essentially Tamil “exceptionalism”, which insists that Tamil is “distinct” from other languages. This Tamil exceptionalism is articulated by hatred against other languages, even those that belong to Dravidian family like Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam. It is not just Hindi”
In an interview to a TV Channel, RN Ravi criticized Tamil politicians, saying they do not really love Tamil, and they haven’t done anything for the promotion of Tamil language or culture. He said “The reality is that every year, students are moving away from Tamil medium to English medium. The number of students pursuing their studies in Tamil is declining steadily and steeply,”
Ravi accused that the Tamil Nadu government has given “zero budget for research” in Tamil language and culture adding “There are over 11 lakh palm leaves manuscripts rotting in the state archive. No money is allotted for their preservation.”
Appavu said, “In a way, what he says is true. you are correct about one thing; the only terrorist is him and no one else here The only terrorist is him and there is no one terrorist here. That is his mindset, he is referring to himself when he talks about a terrorist, there is no one else here,” claiming that the Governor’s comments reflected “his own thoughts” rather than the reality on the ground. He was in places where terrorism prevailed, and he wants to instigate that here, but it will not happen.
Appavu said that Tamil Nadu had no terrorism issue and alleged that the Governor was attempting to “instigate” unrest. The speaker said “In this state, there is no terrorism and there are no law-and-order issues. He is simply hoping that terrorism will emerge here, that’s all. He was in places where terrorism prevailed, and he wants to instigate that here, but it will not happen”>
Taking aim at the Governor’s background, Appavu said “Tamil Nadu people are educated and not like in his place( Bihar),” Tamil Nadu continued to remain safe under the Chief Minister MK Stalin’s leadership. Everyone here is safe and the Chief Minister is doing safe governance”.
Reacting to his comments, BJP leader CR Kesavan in a tweet in X said “Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker Appavu labelling TN Governor as a terrorist is outright disgraceful and unpardonable. The Speaker whose supposed duty is to maintain dignity & decorum of the Assembly is seen here saying that the TN Governor wishes for terrorism in the state. Till now, neither the CM nor Deputy CM has condemned the Speaker’s abusive and shameful remarks. If the DMK continues to maintain a shocking and calculative silence on this issue it will only go onto to show that such vile statements have the tacit approval of the DMK leadership. The TN Speaker should immediately tender an unconditional apology to the TN Governor and express regret”.
Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker Mr. Appavu labelling Hon’ble TN Governor as a terrorist is outright disgraceful and unpardonable.The Speaker whose supposed duty is to maintain dignity & decorum of the Assembly is seen here saying that the TN Governor wishes for terorrism in the… pic.twitter.com/vYAGoyOrGa
— C.R.Kesavan (@crkesavan) November 28, 2025
Former President of Tamil Nadu BJP K Annamalai reacted by saying in his social media handle X ” The Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, Appavu, has stooped to the extent of calling the Governor of Tamil Nadu, Thiru RN Ravi, a “terrorist” merely for highlighting the disturbing rise in terror-related incidents under the DMK Government. Has Appavu forgotten the horrific 2022 suicide bombing in Coimbatore? Has he forgotten the petrol bombs thrown at the BJP offices & establishments of BJP functionaries by PFI goons? Does he ever check the press releases of NIA on the crackdown of deep-rooted terror modules in Tamil Nadu in the past few years? And, above all, while the people of TN continue to suffer due to the government’s failure to ensure a safe environment, the 1998 Coimbatore bombing mastermind, Terrorist Basha, was shockingly accorded a martyr-like farewell, complete with tight police security for his funeral procession”.
The Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, Thiru Appavu, has stooped to the extent of calling the Honourable Governor of Tamil Nadu, Thiru RN Ravi avl, a “terrorist” merely for highlighting the disturbing rise in terror-related incidents under the DMK Government.
Has… pic.twitter.com/fYwIsclSDi
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) November 28, 2025
BJP and AIADMK leaders said “Appavu has been functioning like a DMK cadre while inside and outside Assembly. He switched off the mike while opposition members were speaking or cut short their speech or did not allow; and used to pass vile comments on their party and its leaders”.
Appavu on January 20 this year walked out of a meeting at the two-day 85th All India Presiding Officers’ Conference in Patna after Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Harivansh Narayan Singh objected to certain remarks Appavu was making about the Tamil Nadu governor in his speech. Appavu spoke about Governor of RN Ravi’s actions, including the latter avoiding his customary annual address to the Assembly, as prepared by the state government. When Singh opposed his remarks, Appavu, retorted back saying, “The governor of Tamil Nadu is acting against the Constitution. If I cannot speak about this here, where else can I?”
In 2022 (on June 28, Appavu and DMK MLA Inigo Irudayaraj took part in the centenary celebrations of St Paul seminary in Tiruchirappalli), Appavu said “If Christian Fathers and Sisters were not there, Tamil Nadu would have been like Bihar. Catholic Fathers and Sisters only helped me to grow to this position today. Tamil Nadu Government is your government. You created this government. Your prayers and fasting formed this government. Catholic Christians and Christian fathers are the main reason for social justice and Dravidian model government. You (Catholic Christians) do not need to depend on anyone. You list out your all problems and give it directly to Chief Minister. He will not deny anything and will sort out everything. Because Chief Minister knows you are the reason for this government. It is your government and your chief minister. I am with you in this. If Christians are removed from Tamil Nadu, there will be no development. Catholic Christians are the main reason for Tamil Nadu’s development. Today’s Tamil Nadu is built on you”.
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