Guv walks out of Assembly; House adopts resolution ‘removing’ his speech

CHENNAI: The maiden Assembly session of 2023 began with the face-off between the State government and the Governor hitting a new low on Monday after Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi "walked out" of the State Assembly.

The Governor abruptly exited the House, without waiting for the customary singing of the national anthem, moments before Chief Minister M K Stalin finished moving a resolution seeking to 'remove' the portions read out by the Governor with "additions and omissions in violation of the Assembly tradition."

Soon after Speaker M Appavu read out the Tamil version of the Governor's address, Stalin moved the resolution seeking to relax rule 17 of the House and take on record only the approved speech (English) of the customary Governor's address printed and circulated among the MLAs and its Tamil version read out by the Speaker in the House.

The Chief Minister also moved another resolution to 'remove' the portions read out by the Governor with 'additions' and 'omissions', deviating from the already printed speech.

The Chief Minister moved the resolution after Governor Ravi, in his customary address with which the first session of a calendar year begins in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, skipped the portions referring to the Dravidian model government's law and order management and the leaders who shaped modern Tamil Nadu.

Justifying his offensive against the governor on the floor of the House, the Chief Minister said, "Though the activities of the governor were contrary to our Dravidian model principles and unacceptable, we conformed to the rules of the House and did not register our opposition before he began his speech. We accorded full respect to the governor who had turned up to deliver his speech in accordance with the Constitution. However, he acted not only in violation of our principles but also the principles of the government. It is sad that he did not properly or fully read the speech prepared by the government and approved by him. It is a violation of the Assembly traditions."

Just as the Chief Minister was imploring the Speaker to help adopt the resolution, the visibly upset non-Tamil speaking governor marched out of the House after his security personnel translated the contents of the statement being made by Stalin. Speaker Appavu subsequently put the resolution to voice vote and got it passed 'unanimously' in the House. MLAs of the AIADMK faction led by Edappadi K Palaniswami exited the House midway through the CM's speech against what the government described as violation of tradition and rules on the part of the Governor.

Guv approved speech on Jan 7

Talking to media persons after the session, State Industries Minister Thangam Thennarasu said the speech of the governor is a policy document of the state government. "The Chief Minister sent it (speech) to the governor on January 5. He gave his approval to it on January 7. If he had reservations about the content of the speech, he could have informed the government. He has refused to name leaders who shaped modern Tamil Nadu," waving a copy of a correspondence between the government and Raj Bhavan.

"The president does not make any change in the speech prepared by the Union government. In exiting before the national anthem was sung, he has insulted the anthem," Thennarasu said, accusing the AIADMK of "executing a bond of slavery" and walking out "shamefully" before the national anthem was sung.

Guv violated Constitution many times: Speaker

Upping his ante against the Governor, Speaker Appavu said, "He has sworn an oath on the Constitution. I am sad that he has skipped a mention of Ambedkar who drafted the Constitution. He has acted in violation of the Constitution on many instances. I do not know why he is doing it. I am deeply saddened by it."

DMK's allies sloganeer against Guv on the floor

Earlier in the day, DMK's allies Congress, VCK, the Left parties and MDMK stormed the well of the House and sloganeer against the governor as soon as he began delivering his speech around 10am. MLAs of the ruling alliance shouted, "Engal Nadu, Tamil Nadu, Thinikkathe, Thinikkathe, RSS kolgaiyai Thinikkathey (Our Nadu, Tamil Nadu. Don't impose RSS ideology) while R N Ravi was delivering his speech. MLAs of the PMK, an ally of the BJP, also sloganeered during the Governor's speech demanding his assent to the online gambling bill, after the secular alliance parties MLAs (excluding the DMK) walked out in protest of the Governor's actions.

What the Governor omitted?

Because of stellar management of law and order, Tamil Nadu continues to be a haven of peace. As a result, the State is attracting numerous foreign investments and is becoming a forerunner in all sectors.

This Government is founded on the ideals of social justice, self-respect, inclusive growth, equality, women empowerment, secularism and compassion towards all. Following the principles and ideals of stalwarts like Thanthai Periyar, Annal Ambedkar, Perunthalaivar Kamarajar, Perarignar Anna and Muthamizh Arignar Kalaignar, this Government has been delivering the much-acclaimed Dravidian model of governance to its people.