CHENNAI, Jan 20:
In the fourth such instance, Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi today walked out of the State Assembly without delivering his customary address to the House following an argument with Speaker M Appavu who requested him to stick to the state-prepared text. Chief Minister M K Stalin dubbed Ravi’s action as an insult to the House and the people of the State.
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Beginning in 2023, this was the fourth such consecutive walkout in a row by Ravi, who cited “unsubstantiated claims and misleading statements,” for not reading out the policy statement.
The Governor’s office alleged national anthem was yet again “insulted” and the fundamental Constitutional duty of respecting it was disregarded. Several crucial issues troubling the people were ignored.
Chief Minister and DMK President MK Stalin said his party would make efforts to amend the Constitution to omit provisions mandating Governor’s Address to the State Legislature.
As Speaker Appavu began reading out the Tamil version of the state-prepared Governor’s address after Ravi left abruptly, main opposition AIADMK staged a walkout alleging law and order failure and other opposition parties including the PMK followed suit.
In the Governor’s address read out by the Speaker, the Tamil Nadu Government urged the Centre to withdraw the recently passed VB-G RAM G Act and restore UPA-era rural employment scheme, MGNREGA.
While the Assembly, immediately after Ravi walked out of the House, adopted a resolution moved by Stalin stating that only the Government prepared customary address would go on official record, the Lok Bhavan quickly released a statement claiming to give an explanation to what transpired inside the House.
Alleging that the mic of the Governor was turned off in Assembly, the Lok Bhavan listed 12 other points all of which was dismissed by the Tamil Nadu Government as baseless and false.
While Ravi had been demanding that the national anthem be played at the commencement of the customary address, the Government’s stand is that the Tamil anthem is traditionally played at the beginning and the national anthem at the end. (PTI)
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