Tamil Nadu Governor Walks Out of Assembly Over National Anthem Dispute
Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi walked out of the Assembly, protesting the absence of the National Anthem at the session's start. This incident deepens the ongoing friction between the Governor and the DMK government.
Chennai: Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi staged a dramatic walkout from the state Assembly today, refusing to deliver his customary address. The walkout stemmed from the absence of the National Anthem at the beginning of the session, which the Governor deemed an insult to the Constitution.
Traditionally, the Assembly begins with the Tamil Thai Valthu, the state anthem, and concludes with the National Anthem. However, Governor Ravi demanded that the National Anthem be sung both at the beginning and end of the session.
"The Constitution of Bharat and the National Anthem were insulted today in the Tamil Nadu Assembly," the Raj Bhavan said in a statement. "Respecting the National Anthem is a Fundamental Duty under the Constitution. Despite the Governor’s appeal to the Chief Minister and the Speaker, the National Anthem was not sung at the start. This refusal is deeply concerning," the statement added.
Following the Governor's exit, Speaker M Appavu took over and delivered the customary address originally meant to be read by the Governor.
This incident marks the latest in a series of confrontations between the Raj Bhavan and the DMK-led state government. In February 2022, Governor Ravi similarly refused to read parts of the Assembly address, omitting references to BR Ambedkar, Periyar, CN Annadurai, and the Dravidian Model, leading to a walkout after the House adopted a resolution to record only the official speech.
The Governor’s relationship with the MK Stalin government has remained contentious since his appointment in 2021. The DMK has accused him of acting as a BJP spokesperson, stalling state legislation, and overstepping constitutional boundaries. Governor Ravi, in turn, has defended his actions, asserting that the Constitution empowers him to withhold assent to state legislation.
The standoff between the Raj Bhavan and the Tamil Nadu government has escalated to the Supreme Court, where both the apex court and the Madras High Court have reaffirmed that Governors must act on the advice of the state cabinet.
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