MDMK general secretary Vaiko has issued a statement in which he said that by walking out of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly without reading the Governor’s Address, as is his usual practice, Governor R.N. Ravi has shown utter disregard for and insulted the traditions of the Legislature.
He said that it is an established convention for the Assembly session to begin with the Tamil Thai Vazhthu and conclude with the National Anthem. Despite the Speaker of the Assembly explaining this convention to the Governor on several occasions, the Governor deliberately boycotted the Assembly citing the excuse that the National Anthem was not sung.
Vaiko further said that the Governor’s office had issued a statement contrary to facts, falsely claiming that the Governor was not allowed to speak and that the microphone was switched off. He alleged that the statement from Raj Bhavan resembled one issued directly from the BJP office.
He said that deleting portions of the Governor’s Address prepared by the State government and inserting personal views amounts to overstepping constitutional limits and is an unconstitutional act. The conduct of Governor R.N. Ravi, which violates constitutional norms, deserves strong condemnation.
Vaiko welcomed Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s statement in the Assembly that the DMK would take steps to bring about necessary amendments to the Indian Constitution to put an end to the practice of beginning Assembly sessions with the Governor’s Address, and that the DMK would work together with like-minded parties across the country for this purpose.