Tamil Nadu Governor walks out of Assembly over national anthem controversy
PTC Web Desk: In a dramatic turn of events, Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi walked out of the state Assembly on Monday, refusing to deliver his customary address. The walkout stemmed from a disagreement over the absence of the national anthem at the start of the session, a move Governor Ravi considered a violation of constitutional norms.
Traditionally, when the Tamil Nadu Assembly convenes, the state anthem Tamil Thai Valthu is sung at the beginning, and the national anthem is played at the conclusion of the session. However, Governor RN Ravi objected to this practice, insisting that the National Anthem should be sung both at the beginning and the end of the Assembly proceedings.
The Governor’s office, in a statement, criticised the Tamil Nadu government, stating: "Respecting the National Anthem is a fundamental duty as per the Constitution. It is customary in state legislatures to play the National Anthem at both the beginning and the end of the Governor’s address. The Tamil Nadu Assembly did not uphold this practice, prompting the Governor to leave in anguish."
When Governor Ravi arrived at the Assembly, only Tamil Thai Valthu was sung. Despite his appeal to Chief Minister MK Stalin and Speaker M Appavu to include the National Anthem at the start, his request was declined. In protest, the Governor left the session, stating he could not participate in what he termed “brazen disrespect” to the Constitution.
Following his departure, Speaker M Appavu delivered the Governor’s customary address in his place, marking another flashpoint in the ongoing tension between the Raj Bhawan and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led state government.
This is not the first instance of discord between Governor Ravi and the Tamil Nadu government. Since his appointment in 2021, the relationship between the Governor and the MK Stalin-led administration has been fraught with controversy:
2022 Assembly Session: The Governor refused to read portions of his speech referencing BR Ambedkar, Periyar, CN Annadurai, and the term "Dravidian Model." After the Assembly passed a resolution to record only the official speech, Ravi walked out without waiting for the National Anthem.
February 2023 dispute: Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi declined to deliver the customary address, claiming the draft speech contained misleading and factually incorrect statements.
Legislative Standoff: The Governor has withheld assent to several state Bills and appointments, a move the DMK has criticised as politically motivated.
The DMK has frequently accused Governor Ravi of acting as a BJP representative rather than a neutral constitutional authority. These allegations have heightened tensions between the state government and the Raj Bhawan, with disputes escalating to the Supreme Court and even Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The Supreme Court and the Madras High Court have repeatedly stated that Governors are constitutionally bound to act on the advice of the state Cabinet. However, Governor Ravi maintains that the Constitution permits him to withhold assent to legislation and question procedural matters.
- With inputs from agencies
