Tamil Nadu Governor Snubs DMK's Assembly Address, Sparks Controversy Over National Anthem Protocol (image-twitter/CMOTamilnadu)
On Monday, Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi refused to read the customary address prepared by the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) state government in the first assembly session for the year, citing his disagreements with the content.
Governor Ravi stated that he disagreed with certain parts of the address on “factual and moral grounds”, adding that reading the certain sections out would be equivalent to a “constitutional travesty”.
During the state budget assembly session, the state Governor concluded his address within two minutes, stating that his repeated requests to play the national anthem at the beginning and the end of the address had been ignored. ”
According to the convention in the state assembly of Tamil Nadu, the state song “Thamizh Thai Vazhthu” will be played before the national address while the national anthem will be played at the ending of the proceedings.
The Governor concluded his address by saying, “Wish this House a productive and healthy discussion for the people”s good.”
#WATCH | At the Tamil Nadu assembly session, Governor RN Ravi says, “My repeated request & advice to show due respect to the national anthem and play it at the beginning & end of the address has been ignored. This address has numerous passages with which I convincingly disagree… pic.twitter.com/BhFLWS09Ws
— ANI (@ANI) February 12, 2024
The Tamil version of the prepared speech is being read before the House by Speaker M Appavu. Several MLAs from Congress and other left aligning parties wore a black badge on the first day of the House, as a sign of condemning the Governor on several issues.
Previously, Tamil Nadu Governor has been at odds with the DMK-led state government on a variety of issues.
