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MK Stalin Urges Centre to Recall Tamil Nadu Governor Amid Anthem Row
Tensions between the Tamil Nadu government and Governor RN Ravi have escalated after Chief Minister MK Stalin called for the governor’s recall, accusing him of disrespecting Tamil culture.
The controversy erupted during an event where the Tamil anthem, Tamil Thaai Vazhthu, was sung, but a line containing the word “Dravida” was skipped. Stalin’s sharp criticism of the governor has intensified the growing rift between the state government and the governor’s office.
Skipped Line in Tamil Anthem Sparks Political Clash
The incident occurred during the golden jubilee celebrations of Chennai Doordarshan, which coincided with the Centre’s Hindi month celebrations. The missing line from the anthem particularly aggravated tensions, as the word “Dravida” refers to the racial identity of the southern states’ people. Stalin, who also leads the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), strongly condemned the omission, accusing Governor Ravi of deliberately disrespecting Tamil Nadu’s identity.
The group from Doordarshan Tamil, responsible for performing the anthem, later apologized, explaining that the singers were distracted, leading to the mistake. However, Stalin has maintained that the skipping of the line violates state law and has called on the Centre to immediately recall Governor Ravi.
Stalin Accuses Governor of Insulting Tamil Nadu’s Unity
In a public statement, Stalin questioned whether Governor Ravi would also suggest omitting “Dravida” from the national anthem, accusing him of having a “Dravidian allergy.” The chief minister further claimed that the incident reflects an ongoing attempt to undermine the linguistic and cultural identity of non-Hindi speaking states, accusing the governor of insulting Tamil Nadu’s unity under the guise of celebrating Hindi.
Stalin wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter), “The Union Government should immediately recall the Governor who is deliberately insulting Tamil Nadu and the sentiments of its people.”
Governor Responds, Denies Allegations
In response to Stalin’s remarks, Governor RN Ravi issued a statement on X, dismissing the allegations as false and calling Stalin’s comments a “racist remark” against him. He asserted that he always recites the full Tamil Thaai Vazhthu with respect and precision, accusing the chief minister of making cheap political remarks that degrade the dignity of his office.
Governor Ravi also emphasized that the Union government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has taken significant steps to promote Tamil culture and heritage. He accused Stalin of making “incorrect imputations” against him in a rush to make the issue public.
The ongoing row has further strained relations between the Tamil Nadu government and the governor’s office, adding fuel to the ongoing political friction in the state.
