T.N. Governor criticises govt. over venue chosen to honour Mahatma Gandhi on death anniversary

“My repeated requests to the Chief Minister to accord due respect to the Father of the Nation and hold such events in a befitting manner at the Gandhi Mandapam met with stubborn refusal,” R.N. Ravi was quoted as saying in a social media post

Expressing disapproval of the Tamil Nadu government hosting events in “a corner of a city museum” to honour the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi, Governor R.N. Ravi on Thursday (January 30, 2025) said his repeated requests to Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to stop this practice was met with “stubborn refusal.”

In a social media post, the Raj Bhavan quoted Mr. Ravi as saying: “Does it make any sense to do Gandhi memorial events — his birthday and martyrdom day — in a corner of a city museum? My repeated requests to the Chief Minister to accord due respect to the Father of the Nation and hold such events in a befitting manner at the Gandhi Mandapam met with stubborn refusal.”

Mr. Ravi was further quoted as saying: “During his lifetime, Gandhi Ji was vigorously opposed and mocked by the followers of Dravidian ideology. But should he continued to be mocked at even today? [sic]”

The Governor said the Gandhi Mandapam was “a grand memorial” built over a sprawling land adjacent to the Guindy National Park by then-Chief Minister K. Kamaraj in 1956.

Earlier in the day, the Governor paid floral tributes to a portrait and bust of Mahatma Gandhi at the Gandhi Mandapam on the occasion of his death anniversary. Mr. Stalin and Ministers paid floral tributes to the statue of Mahatma Gandhi on the government museum campus in Egmore.

Mr. Stalin also administered the pledge against untouchability to the Ministers, senior officials, and staff at the Secretariat in Fort St. George in Chennai.

Published - January 30, 2025 03:43 pm IST