Sankaraiah doctorate row: Ponmudy to boycott TNOU convocation ceremony
The Minister is continuing his symbolic protest after taking a similar stance of skipping the recently held convocation ceremony of Madurai Kamarajar University.
Tamil Nadu Higher Education Minister K Ponmudy (left)
CHENNAI: Taking further exception that the Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi had not given an accent to confer honorary doctor degree to veteran freedom fighter N Sankaraiah, the state Higher Education Minister K Ponmudy "boycotted" the convocation function at Tamil Nadu Open University (TNOU).
This is the second time in less than two weeks the minister "did not attend" the convocation. After officially announcing on the previous day, the Ponmudy had boycotted the convocation function at Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU). The invitation, which was distributed by TNOU with regard to the convocation, had clearly mentioned Ponmudy's name.
However, the minister did not announce officially or gave any statement that he would not attend TNOU convocation as he did for MKU function. A senior official from the Higher Education Department, seeking anonymity, told DT Next that the minister was' 'slightly not well" and he could attend the function as per the schedule.
The decision of Ponmudy to "boycott" the convocation for the second time in a row also assumes significance as DMK government had recently moved the Supreme Court against the governor for allegedly keeping more than ten administrative files and bills pending in his office without clearing it.
However, the Higher Education Minister had attended the 8th convocation of Indian Maritime University at Chennai, which was held recently, where President Droupadi Murmu addressed the function.
It may be noted that in July 2022, Ponmudy had skipped the convocation function at Madurai Kamaraj University by alleging that the governor Ravi was trying to politicise convocations and attempting to act on his own.
