'National Anthem Insulted Yet Again': Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi Walks Out Of Assembly

Lok Bhavan issued a clarification after Governor R. N. Ravi walked out of the Tamil Nadu Assembly without delivering his address, alleging he was denied the right to speak amid tensions with the DMK-led government.

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Governor R. N. Ravi on Tuesday walked out of the State Legislative Assembly before delivering his inaugural address. Soon after, Lok Bhavan released a detailed statement explaining that the Governor chose not to proceed after his microphone was “repeatedly switched off” and he was not allowed to place his views before the House. The episode unfolded amid growing tensions between the Governor and the DMK-led government on the opening day of the Assembly session.

Lok Bhavan described the incident as unprecedented, stating that the Governor, as the constitutional head of the state, was forced to withdraw after being denied the opportunity to speak. It also said the Governor had sought to flag serious omissions and inaccuracies in the prepared address but was prevented from doing so.

Dispute Over Investment Claims and Governance Issues

The statement alleged that the address contained several unsubstantiated and misleading claims while overlooking issues of major public importance. It specifically questioned the government’s claim that Tamil Nadu had attracted investments worth over Rs. 12 lakh crore, stating that many memorandums of understanding remained only on paper and actual investments were far lower. Lok Bhavan also cited data suggesting that the state’s ranking among top foreign direct investment recipients had slipped in recent years.

Concerns were also raised over the failure to mention long-pending vacancies and alleged mismanagement in educational institutions, declining education standards and the absence of village panchayat elections for years which it said had deprived citizens of their constitutional right to grassroots democracy.

Concerns Over Safety, Social Issues and Constitutional Duties

Lok Bhavan said the address failed to mention women’s safety issues, despite a rise in POCSO cases and sexual violence. It also pointed to the growing problem of drug abuse among young people including school students and linked it to more than 2,000 suicides in a year. The statement also referred to rising crimes against Dalits, increasing suicides across the state, pressure on the MSME sector, dissatisfaction among lower-level government employees and continued government control of thousands of temples without trustee boards.

It added that these issues reflected the real situation on the ground and should not have been left out of an important address meant to highlight the state government’s priorities. The Governor’s walkout followed a disagreement over the playing of the National Anthem and marked the third year in a row that he has not delivered the customary Assembly address.

(From the Agency Inputs)