Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and state governor RN Ravi are at odds over eliminating the “Dravidam” allusion from the state hymn, prompting the former to ask for the latter’s recall. The Centre appears to be cosying up to the DMK, which has a significant number of MPs in the Lok Sabha, as evidenced by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh releasing a commemorative coin on the birth anniversary of DMK patriarch M Karunanindhi and the Union government sanctioning funds for the Chennai Metro. Stalin’s appearance at the Governor’s tea party, when other alliance partners boycotted it, only added to the buzz about the CM’s camaraderie with the DMK.
Disagreements among constitutional functionaries harm the country’s prosperity.
Ravi recently lauded the state administration for effectively managing the monsoon. The Opposition suggested a covert agreement to avert CBI and ED raids. Stalin sought the Governor’s recall for omitting a reference to ‘Dravidam’ from the state anthem. The Governor attended the Golden Jubilee celebration of the Doordarshan Tamil channel at the Chennai DD station.
The DMK and other parties were upset by the omission, despite Chennai Doordarshan’s apology to the Governor. Stalin questioned whether the Governor, who had a ‘Dravidian allergy’, would also remove the word ‘Dravida’ from the National Anthem. He also urged that the Centre return Ravi. The Governor criticised Stalin’s words as racially inflammatory and disrespectful to the chief minister’s position.
The DMK has accused Ravi of being anti-Dravidian, citing his claim of creating an Aryan versus Dravidian narrative that did not exist.
The Governor argues that Dravidianism was a colonial tool used by the British to divide and rule. Ravi stated during Hindi Week celebrations that Tamil Nadu has been isolated from the rest of the country for over 50 years. According to the speaker, 27 of India’s 28 states have a three-language policy, with Tamil Nadu being the exception. The DMK has a history of disagreements with the Governor, particularly with his refusal to sign state assembly bills, such as the NEET resolution.
Under the BJP-led administration in New Delhi, the gap between governors and state governments is widening. Southern states accuse the Centre of disrupting the country’s federal system. India is a Union of States, and the Governor’s role is solely advisory.
Regular disagreements between these two constitutional officers harm the country’s growth and prosperity. Governor Ravi should follow his constitutional duties and refrain from interfering with the democratically elected state government’s operations.
Dr. Abhishek Verma
Author: This news is edited by: Abhishek Verma, (Editor, CANON TIMES)
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