Tamil Nadu Governor Abruptly Concludes Address Over National Anthem Dispute

Governor RN Ravi wrapped up his usual presentation to the House on Monday in a move that was first in the history of the Tamil Nadu Assembly. He said he disagreed with the administration over the subject of the message and blasted the DMK regime for 'not honoring' the national anthem.

During his first speech of the year to the House, Ravi remarked that the state government had disregarded his repeated pleas and suggestions to honor the national anthem by playing it at the start and finish of the speech. The administration called a meeting of the House for the traditional Governor's Address to the Assembly on February 12.


The governor said, "I convincingly disagree, on factual and moral grounds," with many of the sentiments in the speech. Therefore, Ravi said that "lending his voice" to those components of the administration with which he disapproved would be a "travesty of the Constitution." Thus, I will end my speech with a few words for the House. I hope the conversation in this House is fruitful and beneficial to the people." Shortly after expressing his disapproval of the administration, Ravi concluded his statement by extending his greetings in Tamil to Speaker M Appavu, Chief Minister M K Stalin, and Legislators.

Arif Mohammed Khan, the governor of Kerala, recently concluded his usual speech in a few minutes, reading just the last paragraph.

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