The DMK chief claimed that the BJP regime in general and Modi, in particular, is infuriated by the Opposition parties meet.
Published Jul 10, 2023 | 1:03 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 10, 2023 | 1:26 PM
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin. (mkstalin/ Twitter)
Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Monday,10 July, alleged that Governors in Opposition-ruled states “destabilise and interfere” in governance, as he backed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin’s demand seeking the removal of Governor Ravi.
Reacting to the development, Sibal said, “Ambedkar on Governors: said functionary…a purely ornamental functionary… no power of interference in administration (sic).”
The former Union law minister said that Governors in Opposition-ruled states push the Hindutva agenda, destabilise and interfere in matters of governance, and incite hate. He add that Stalin is right to ask for Governor Ravi’s removal.
Sibal, who was a Union minister during UPA 1 and 2, had quit the Congress in May last year and was elected to the Rajya Sabha as an Independent member with the Samajwadi Party’s support.
He recently floated a non-electoral platform “Insaaf”, aimed at fighting injustice.
Ambedkar on Governors :
“..said functionary..a purely ornamental functionary.. no power of interference in administration..”Governors in opposition ruled states :
1) have Hindutva agenda
2)destabilise & interfere
3) incite hateStalin is right to ask for Ravi’s removal
— Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) July 10, 2023
On Sunday, Stalin, who is also the DMK chief, said there was nothing to worry about even if the DMK-led state government faced a risk in view of its staunch Opposition to the BJP.
Speaking about the recent Patna meeting of Opposition parties, Stalin said it was more important to ensure that a certain dispensation did not continue — rather than focus on who captured power — in an obvious reference to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP Union government.
Referring to the proposed next meeting of Opposition parties in Karnataka (17-18 July), the DMK chief claimed that the BJP regime in general and Modi, in particular, was infuriated by such developments. Hence, Modi is “talking something”, forgetting that he is the prime minister, and there is nothing to worry about that, he said.
There need not be even a “wee bit of concern” about any scenario that may emerge, even if it means a threat to the DMK regime in view of the party’s stiff opposition to the BJP, Stalin said, presiding over a wedding in Chennai.
“A massive victory of the DMK and allies in the Parliamentary polls and defeat of the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls is the goal,” he added.
Targeting Modi, Stalin sought to know if even a “single electoral assurance” made by the BJP ahead of the Lok Sabha polls (2014 and 2019) had been fulfilled.
The DMK chief said that Prime Minister Modi had promised that he would bring home black money stashed abroad and distribute ₹15 lakh per person to every Indian citizen.
“Has he given ₹15,000 or ₹15 at the very least to people, leave alone ₹15 lakh?” Modi never thought or spoke about that assurance, he alleged. Stalin slammed Modi on electoral promises of job opportunities and farmers’ welfare as well.
The chief minister also recalled the long-drawn protest in Delhi against the three farm laws, which were rescinded later by the BJP regime.
Taking into account all such factors, and in order to dislodge the “dictatorial” BJP regime at the Centre, all the Opposition parties came together recently at Patna to ensure a good future for the country, he said.
Hitting back at Stalin, Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai said the fear of defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls has gripped the chief minister.
In a tweet, he said, Prime Minister Modi did not comment that money would be deposited in the bank accounts of people, and the reference was to black money stashed abroad by corrupt elements.
On his Twitter handle, Annamalai posted a video clip of Modi’s remarks in this regard.
The BJP leader alleged that over 90 percent of poll assurances made by the DMK ahead of the 2021 Assembly election had not yet been fulfilled. He slammed the DMK regime as “corrupt”.
தமிழக முதல்வர் திரு @mkstalin அவர்களுக்கு தோல்வி பயம் மூண்டு விட்டது போல் தெரிகிறது.
ஆட்சிக்கு வந்து இரண்டு ஆண்டுகள் முடிந்த பின்னரும் 90 சதவீதத்திற்கும் மேற்பட்ட வாக்குறுதிகளை நிறைவேற்றாமல் ஊழல் ஆட்சியை நடத்திவரும் தமிழக முதல்வர் திரு @mkstalin, 2014ஆம் ஆண்டு மத்திய பாஜக அரசு… pic.twitter.com/P4Z9nnFbsY
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) July 9, 2023
Earlier, Stalin said in a letter to President Droupadi Murmu that the state’s Governor, RN Ravi, “instigates communal hatred” and was a “threat” to the state’s peace.
“Ravi is stoking communal hatred and he is a threat to Tamil Nadu’s peace,” Stalin said in the letter dated 8 July, which was released on Sunday.
Regarding the recent issue of the Governor’s move to dismiss Minister V Senthil Balaji from the Cabinet, which he later backtracked on, 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. 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.
Stalin told Murmu that he was leaving the matter — of removing Ravi from office — to her to decide.
He said 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.
On 12 April, Stalin had written to the chief ministers of non-BJP-ruled states to urge them to pass similar resolutions seeking a timeframe for Governors to decide on a bill.
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
(With PTI inputs)
