‘Tamizhagam’ remark assembly issue: TPDK workers protest against TN Governor

TPDK workers demonstrated here on Tuesday, demanding that Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi be removed from his job by the Centre for allegedly ignoring some sections of his address in the Assembly and the ‘Tamizhagam’ comment issue.

TPDK workers were also enraged and burned the governor’s effigy in Coimbatore, but police prevented them from duplicating the deed in Chennai. More than 30 TPDK militants were held in Chennai when they attempted to burn the Governor’s effigy since they did not have authorization to demonstrate, according to police.

The cops also removed the effigy from the scene.

Speaking about the protest, TPDK’s West Chennai Secretary Kumaran said, “The governor tries to impose BJP and RSS ideology and acts as an RSS voice. We will continue our protest”.

Various Dravidian political parties have criticised Governor Ravi during the spat between him and the TN government.

On Monday, Governor R N Ravi rushed out of the Tamil Nadu parliament following the approval of a motion presented by Chief Minister Stalin that tried to remove from house records everything the Governor said beyond the typical government-prepared address.

Soon after the Governor finished his statement, the Chamber passed a motion to omit a section of the Governor’s speech, prompting the Governor to leave the assembly quickly.

CM Stalin accused the Governor of “delivering a speech that was extempore and deviated from the approved text.”

Elaborating on the whole issue, the Chief Minister said that the text for the customary address was already approved by the Governor and was given to the MLAs as printed books.

MLAs who were present in the assembly observed that Governor RN Ravi in his address skipped sentences, which contained words like Periyar, Ambedkar, Kalaingar Karunanithi, Kamarajar, Dravidian Model Government, Peaceful Tamil Nadu, Social Justice and self-respect.

They also said that Governor Ravi did not read the reference to the ‘Dravidian model’ that the ruling DMK promotes.

Last Wednesday, the Governor sparked a controversy when he remarked that for the name of the State “Thamizhagam would be more appropriate than Tamil Nadu.”

“Unfortunately in Tamil Nadu there has been regressive politics that we are Dravidians, and by virtue of the Constitution, we have been brought together. The entire effort has been created in half a century to reinforce this narrative that we are not part of the nation, an integral part of the nation. And even a different kind of narrative has been created. Everything applicable for the whole of the country, Tamil Nadu will say no,” the Governor had said while speaking at a function held in Raj Bhavan to felicitate the organisers and volunteers of Kashi-Tamil Sangamam.

“It has become a habit. So many theses have been written–all false and poor fiction. This must be broken. Truth must prevail. In fact, Tamil Nadu is the land which holds the soul of Bharat. It is the identity of Bharat. In fact, Thamizhagam would be the more appropriate word to call it,” the Governor said.