In a first, TN Governor RN Ravi refuses to read customary address to Assembly

The Governor walked out of the House, before the national anthem was played to mark the completion of proceedings for the day.

Chennai: Stoking yet another row, Governor R N Ravi on Monday stormed out of the Tamil Nadu Assembly after refusing to read the customary address, prepared by the government, which was highly critical of the Union Government on various issues, besides declaring that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act will be not implemented in the state. 

Ravi, on the first day of the Assembly in 2024, also accused the DMK dispensation of not showing “due respect” to the national anthem by playing it at the beginning and at the end of the address.

To this, Speaker M Appavu said the convention in TN is to begin the Governor’s address with Tamil Thai Vaazhthu (state song) and end it with the national anthem. 

After the Governor reasoned that lending his voice to the address, which he said has numerous passages with which he “convincingly” disagrees on “factual and moral grounds”, would constitute “Constitutional travesty”, Speaker M Appavu read the Tamil translation of the text and accused Ravi of being a “descendant of (Nathuram) Godse and (Veer) Savarkar.”

When the Speaker allowed the Leader of the House Durai Murugan to speak, the Governor rose from his chair and walked out of the House, even as Appavu told Ravi that the “national anthem will be played” after the minister’s remarks. 

The events unfolded on Monday were reminiscent of the scenes witnessed in January 2023 when Ravi did the same after Chief Minister M K Stalin moved a resolution to take “on record” only the prepared text after the Governor skipped a few portions from the prepared speech. After the Governor’s walk out, Speaker Appavu said except the prepared text, nothing else will go “on record” in the House proceedings. 

As the Governor’s action came under severe criticism, the Raj Bhavan issued a statement accusing the Speaker of launching a “tirade” against the Governor and calling him a follower of Godse. “The Hon’ble Speaker with his unbecoming conduct lowered the dignity of his chair and grace of the House,” the statement added. 

Though the Raj Bhavan didn’t say what forced the Governor to skip reading the prepared text, it is believed that the announcement that CAA will not come into force in the state, demanding extension of the GST compensation regime, and accusing the Union Government of “reneging” on its promise vis-à-vis Chennai Metro are the reasons behind Ravi’s decision. 

Former Lok Sabha Secretary-General P D T Achary told DH that by refusing to read the speech in full, the Governor has not just “disrespected” the House and the people of Tamil Nadu, but has also failed in discharging his Constitutional duty. 

“Governor has no choice but to read the speech prepared by the elected government. He has no responsibility for what the address contains, but Article 176 of the Constitution says he should address the House and inform the members on the purpose of the session. He should inform the members by reading it (the address) in full,” Achary said. 

The Constitutional expert added that the issue is even “more serious” as the Governor refused to read the address which he authenticated, without which it could not have been circulated to the members of the House. “In this scenario, his position becomes totally untenable,” Achary added.  

Senior counsel Sanjay R Hedge sought to know whether the President of India can refuse to read the speech prepared at the instance of the elected Union Government.  

“We live in a parliamentary system and Governor Ravi has no discretion in reading it or tabling it before the legislature. No comment, no deletion can be allowed,” Hedge said.

The development comes at a time when the Governor and the DMK dispensation are at loggerheads over a slew of issues, including on legislation passed by the Assembly.

As soon as the House convened, the Governor rose from his chair to say that repeated requests and advice to show due respect to the national anthem by playing it at the beginning and end of the address has been ignored. 

“This address has numerous passages with which I convincingly disagree on factual and moral grounds. Lending my voice to them would constitute Constitutional travesty,” Ravi said. 

“Hence, with respect to the House, I conclude my address and wish this house a healthy discussion for the good of people. Vaazhga Tamil Nadu and Vaazhga Bharatham. Jai Hind, Jai Bharat, Nandri,” the Governor added. 

However, Appavu, who read out the Tamil version of the prepared text before the House, asked whether the Governor would be in agreement if he asked for allotment of funds to Tamil Nadu for handling the flood relief from the “unaccounted” PM Cares funds. 

“Everyone has their own opinion. Despite disagreements, the government and the Chief Minister (M K Stalin) has accorded due respect to the government,” he said, and allowed Leader of the House Durai Murugan to address the House. 

The address, delivered on Monday, declared that the state government will never permit the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act in the state and vowed to protect the rights of minorities and Sri Lankan Tamil brethren. 

Quoting Tamil poet Kanian Poongundranar who said yaadhum oore, yaavarum kelir (to us all towns are one and all are our people), the address said the idea of unity in diversity is facing a grave threat in our nation and that the Government remains steadfast in its commitment to protect and preserve the communal harmony in the state.

“We stand with minorities and our Sri Lankan Tamil brethren, as we pledge to protect their rights. This Government will never permit the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act in our State and vows to take all necessary measures in this regard,” the address said. 

The Governor’s address was also critical of the Union Government for terminating the GST compensation regime in June 2022 resulting in a loss of Rs 20,000 crore per year for the state and urged it to continue the compensation regime further.

The address also accused the Union Government of “reneging” on its promise to provide its share in the Chennai Metro Rail Phase-II project by not allocating funds for the project and approving it.