Governor spewing communal venom: TN Congress

CHENNAI: State Congress President KS Alagiri on Friday criticised Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi for his comments on GU Pope and said that the Governor spewed communal venom against GU Pope.

"GU Pope born in Canada lived for 40 years in India and translated great Tamil works, including Tirukkural, Tiruvasakam, Naladiyar and so on into English but Governor has casually said that GU Pope had presented a de-spiritualised version of Tirukkural. Governor has an idea about the contribution of poets like GU Pope and Veeramamuniyar and is speaking at the behest of someone without even analysing the facts," Alagiri said, in a statement.

Governor kicked off yet another controversy when he unveiled the statue of poet Thiruvalluvar in Delhi in which he said that the British mandated East India company to evangelise India and missionaries like GU Pope presented a de-spiritualised version of Thirukkural. Governor said that the term 'Aadhi Bhagavan' is found in all the religious texts including Rig Veda and it is far from 'Primal Deity' as translated by GU Pope.

The comments of Ravi sparked controversy in the State as Alagiri said that right from the day Governor took over the charge he has been exhibiting his RSS ideology and persons who misrepresents facts cannot be expected to do welfare for the people of the State.

Similarly, IT Minister Mano Thangaraj said that the comments of the Governor shows his frustration. Taking to Twitter, the Minister said, "The contributions of GU Pope for Tamil literature is immense. Governor's speech that Thirukkural did not exhibit his ideology shows his frustration and the comments of such people following Varnashrama Dharma is a challenge given to the entire Tamil society and tradition."