'What has he done for Tamil Nadu': Ph.D scholar refuses to receive degree from Governor Ravi

Chennai: A Ph.D scholar from Nagercoil on Wednesday refused to receive her certificate from Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi, accusing him of “acting against” the state at the convocation ceremony of Manonmaniam Sundaranar University in Tirunelveli. The scholar, Jean Rajan, received her certificate from the Vice-Chancellor M Chandrasekar.

Rajan, who works as a senior manager at a private firm in Nagercoil, was seen walking past Ravi at the dais and proceeded to receive the certificate from the VC. When the VC asked Rajan to receive the certificate from the Governor, she refused, but the Governor didn’t raise any protest.

"What has the Governor done for Tamil Nadu and Tamil? I did this only out of concern for my state. The Governor’s actions of acting against the state are annoying. It was my decision. That’s why I didn’t want to accept my doctorate from the Governor,” Rajan, who received a doctorate in business management, said.

“I believe in the Dravidian Model governance of the DMK and that’s why I didn’t want to receive the certificate from the Governor. I am questioning the system, and I wanted to register my protest. I didn’t speak anything against the Governor to protect the dignity of my state,” she added.

The scholar also added that the Governor was silent when she said she will receive the doctorate from the VC.

The boycott of the Governor by the scholar created a political storm with the BJP asking the DMK functionaries to stop "dramas staged by its members to gain fame within the party".

“Chief Minister M K Stalin must advise his party members not to bring the DMK's low-grade politics into educational institutions. There are more people in Tamil Nadu who dislike the DMK. If they too behave in the same manner, where will Chief Minister M K Stalin hide his face?” BJP asked.

Meanwhile, the Congress, VCK, and Left parties announced that they will boycott the ‘At Home’ hosted by Governor Ravi on August 15 on the occasion of Independence Day.