Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi walked out of the Legislative Assembly On Monday. He protested after the National Anthem was not played at the start of the session. Instead, only the Thamizh Thai Vazhthu, the state song, was sung.
The Tamil Nadu Raj Bhavan issued a statement criticizing the Assembly. It said the absence of the National Anthem disrespected the Constitution. “Respecting the National Anthem is a fundamental duty. It is played in Parliament and in state assemblies before and after the Governor’s address. Today, only the Thamizh Thai Vazhthu was sung,” the statement said.
Governor’s Appeal Ignored
Governor Ravi reminded the Assembly of its constitutional duty. He appealed to Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and Speaker M. Appavu to ensure the National Anthem was sung. However, the Assembly refused. Consequently, the Governor, in deep anguish, left the House. He called the incident “brazen disrespect” to the Constitution.
This walkout is not the first time the Governor has protested. In February 2024, he walked out of the Assembly after similar issues. Back then, he also criticized the omission of the National Anthem and other disagreements in his address.
Longstanding Tensions
The Governor and Tamil Nadu government have often clashed. In January 2023, the Governor walked out over a speech dispute. He had omitted a section praising regional leaders and the Dravidian Model of Governance. This sparked controversy and fueled further tension.
In response, Speaker Appavu defended the Assembly’s actions. He stated that the National Anthem is traditionally played at the end of the Governor’s address, according to Assembly rules. However, the Raj Bhavan insisted that such actions disrespected national symbols and constitutional principles.
These ongoing rifts highlight the deepening political differences between Governor Ravi and the ruling DMK government.
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