Exercise restrain or quit and join BJP/RSS: DMK tells Guv Ravi

CHENNAI: The ruling DMK has lashed out at Governor R N Ravi for his latest critique of the Dravidian ideology and advised him to exercise restraint or quit his post and join either the BJP or RSS.

In a strongly-worded rebuttal titled "Raj Bhavan. Keep your mouth shut" issued to the governor who questioned the alleged lack of research done on freedom fighters in the state, DMK treasurer cum Parliamentary party leader T R Baalu on Tuesday said, "The Governor, who is shamelessly occupying a nominated post created by the British, is lying unabashedly. He has read a Thirukkural couplet related to gratitude all of a sudden. Governor Ravi who wanders around in the state using the taxpayer's money without approving the files related to the corruption of former AIADMK ministers and the Bills passed by the State Assembly, would fit the description in the Thirukkural."

Advising the governor to act in accordance with Thirukkural, Baalu said, "Stop betraying Tamils after enjoying the privileges using the tax money of Tamils. Otherwise, let him quit his post and become a politician or even the president of the BJP or the RSS."

Referring to the pendency of the NEET-exemption among the Bills of the State Assembly pending with the Raj Bhavan, the DMK treasurer said that instead of giving assent to the Bills and fulfilling his responsibility, governor R N Ravi, is traveling and attending events across the state using taxpayers money and speaking against the government elected by the people and the sentiments of Tamil Nadu people. It is a betrayal meted out to the Constitution by him.

Remarking that the governor was repeatedly 'bluffing' against the culture, history and linguistic sentiments of Tamil Nadu people like a RSS representative, Baalu took exception to Ravi's comment about lack of historic literature pertaining to freedom fighters in Tamil Nadu and said that Ravi, like the state BJP president who lies daily, is also lying in the hope of becoming the state BJP president.

Listing out the various freedom fighters, including the Maruthu brothers, honoured by the Tamil Nadu government, mainly during the DMK regime, the DMK treasurer wondered where did the Governor vanish when the state government's tableaux bearing freedom fighters was rejected during the Republic Day parade by the union government.

Accusing the governor of becoming a trumpet of the BJP, Baalu said that the governor was envious of the Dravidian Model being a talking point across the country.