Governor Ravi ‘instigates’ communal hatred, threatens peace in Tamil Nadu: CM Stalin to President Murmu

On the recent issue of the Governor’s move to dismiss minister V Senthil Balaji from the Cabinet, which he later backtracked from, Ravi showed his political slant, the chief minister claimed in his letter.

On the one hand, Ravi delayed sanction to prosecute former ministers in the previous AIADMK regime. On the other hand, through his hasty action in Senthil Balaji’s matter — against whom only now a probe has begun — he displayed his political inclinations, the letter said.

“By way of his behaviour and action, the Governor has proved to be partial and ineligible to hold the office of Governor; Ravi is fit to be removed from the high office,” the chief minister emphasised in his letter.

I have written to Hon'ble @rashtrapatibhvn apprising about the unconstitutional functioning of the Tamil Nadu Governor, his disregard for elected government and the state legislature, and overreach in state affairs. The Governor's acts of delaying assent to bills, interfering… pic.twitter.com/GQMFaw6anU

— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) July 9, 2023

Also read: Stalin says govt may take legal route on Governor holding Bills

Asks President to decide

Stalin told Murmu that he was leaving the matter — of removing Ravi from office — to her, to decide whether Tamil Nadu Governor’s continuation in office would be desirable or suitable considering the sentiments and dignity of the founding fathers.

On 30 June, Stalin made a sharp attack on Ravi, stating: “Though your letters require only an outright disregard, I am writing to you to clarify both the facts and law on the issue on hand.”

He was responding to the Governor’s communication a day earlier dismissing Senthil Balaji from the Tamil Nadu Cabinet, an order that he subsequently put in abeyance.

On 12 April, Stalin had written to the chief ministers of non-BJP-ruled states to urge them to pass a resolution seeking a timeframe for Governors to decide on a bill.

In his letter, Stalin stated that Indian democracy today stands at a crossroads, and people are increasingly witnessing the fading away of the spirit of cooperative federalism from the governance of the nation.

Also read: Tamil Nadu withdraws general consent for CBI probe

‘Principles are not followed’

“The Constitution of India has clearly defined the roles and responsibilities of the Union and state governments along with the role of the Governor. However, it is observed that such time-tested principles are neither respected nor followed now, affecting the functioning of the State governments,” said Stalin in the letter.

“Some Governors today are indefinitely holding various Bills that have been duly passed by the state legislature and sent for approval which brings the respective state administrations to a standstill in such areas,” he added.

Pointing out the standoff between Governor RN Ravi and the Tamil Nadu government in the bill to ban online gambling, Stalin said: “Considering various aspects of the issue, we took several efforts to clarify the doubts and concerns raised by the Governor on the bills sent for approval including the ‘Bill to Ban Online Rummy’. As our efforts failed and as we came to know that many other states have similar issues.”

He further stated that the Tamil Nadu government passed a resolution in the Assembly urging the Union government and the President of India to fix a time limit for Governors to approve Bills passed by the legislature.

Enclosing an extract of the resolution in his letter, Stalin stated: “I am sure that you will agree with the spirit and content of the Resolution, and extend your support in this regard to uphold the sovereignty and self-respect of the state governments and the legislature by passing a similar resolution in your state Assembly.”

Third time lucky?

This is the third time the DMK has complained against Ravi to the President.

On 12 January this year, Tamil Nadu Law Minister S Regupathy led a delegation that submitted a memorandum to Murmu against Ravi following the rift over the pendency of bills passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly.

In November 2022, the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) submitted a memorandum, signed by all the party leaders and the MPs of the parties, to the President.

The memorandum — dated 2 November, 2022 — stated: “Tamil Nadu is a paradise where people from different religions, languages and castes live peacefully. The TN Governor Thiru (Mr) R N Ravi has developed an unfortunate propensity to publicly profess his lack of faith in the secular ideals of this country and frequently engages in divisive rhetoric. This is an embarrassment to our government which has utmost commitment to the secular ethos of this nation.”

The DMK and its leaders of its allies slammed the Governor claiming that he forgot he had not won any election in Tamil Nadu to decide what was good for the people of the state.

Demanding to recall the Governor, the DMK in its memorandum said “Ravi forgets that he has not won any elections in Tamil Nadu to decide what is good for the people of Tamil Nadu.”

“Clearly, Thiru R N Ravi has violated the oath he took under Article 159 to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution and the law and to devote himself to the service and well-being of the people of Tamil Nadu. Far from it, he has been instigating communal hatred, and is a threat to the peace and tranquility of the State… therefore by his conduct and actions, Thiru R N Ravi has proved that he is unfit to hold the constitutional office of Governor and therefore he deserves to be sacked immediately.”

(With PTI inputs)