MK Stalin Urges Centre to Recall Tamil Nadu Governor Over Tamil Anthem Controversy

Chennai: A fresh confrontation has erupted between the Tamil Nadu government and Governor RN Ravi after Chief Minister MK Stalin accused the governor of disrespecting the Tamil anthem. The issue arose during an event attended by Governor Ravi, where a line containing the word "Dravida" was reportedly skipped while singing the Tamil Thaai Vazhthu, the state's anthem. Stalin, in a sharp rebuke, called for the Centre to recall the governor, accusing him of undermining national unity.

The incident occurred during the golden jubilee celebrations of Chennai Doordarshan, which coincided with Hindi Month celebrations, an event already drawing criticism from the Chief Minister. Stalin has consistently voiced opposition to promoting Hindi in Tamil Nadu, a non-Hindi speaking state, stating that it devalues other regional languages.

The missing line from the anthem has further inflamed tensions, with Stalin accusing the governor of showing contempt for the Dravidian identity, which represents the people of southern India. He questioned whether the governor would call for omitting 'Dravida' from the national anthem and highlighted that skipping the word violated Tamil Nadu's legal statutes.

Governor RN Ravi responded strongly, rejecting the accusations. He asserted that the omission was unintentional, caused by the singers being distracted, and expressed regret over Stalin's "racist remark" against him. In a social media post, the governor emphasized his reverence for the Tamil anthem and said he recites it fully with respect at every function.

The Doordarshan Tamil unit, responsible for organizing the event, issued an apology, acknowledging the error and clarifying that the singers did not intentionally skip the line. They also expressed regret for any inconvenience caused to the governor.

This latest dispute adds to the ongoing tension between the Tamil Nadu government and Governor Ravi. Earlier, Stalin had criticized the Hindi Month celebrations being held in Tamil Nadu, asserting that such events marginalize non-Hindi languages. In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Stalin suggested that local language celebrations should be given equal prominence in non-Hindi speaking states.

Governor Ravi defended the celebrations, stating that Hindi should be embraced as part of India's linguistic diversity, rather than viewed as an imposition. He expressed concern over attempts to isolate Tamil Nadu from the rest of the country, calling it a "toxic and separatist policy."

The growing rift between the Tamil Nadu government and the governor has been a recurring issue, with previous disagreements over pending bills and governance models. This latest controversy adds another layer to the ongoing clash between the state's ruling DMK party and the governor's office.