Quit post if you are looking to please BJP: DMK, allies tell Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi

“His (Ravi’s) speeches are given importance because he is holding the post of the Governor. The BJP is expecting much more. If RN Ravi is looking to please the leadership (for higher positions), then let him resign from the post of the Governor and do so. We ask the Governor to act responsibly and stop making such remarks,” the statement said.

The statement was signed by DMK treasurer TR Baalu, Dravidar Kazhagam President K Veeramani, Tamil Nadu Congress chief KS Alagiri, VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan, MDMK chief Vaiko, CPI(M) State Secretary K Balakrishnan, CPI State Secretary R Mutharasan, IUML leader Khader Mohideen, Manithaneya Makkal Katchi leader MH Jawahirullah, Kongu Nadu Desiya Katchi General Secretary ER Eswaran, and Tamilaga Vazhurimai Katchi leader T Velmurugan.

Trigger for the statement

The trigger for the statement by the leaders of the DMK-led alliance were the recent remarks by Governor Ravi, which the leaders believed were against the values of secularism as enshrined in the Constitution.

“The governor said: ‘India is said to be a secular country. But all countries will follow a particular religion. India is no exception.’ He has started to consider himself as the Parliament of India, the Supreme Court, the President of India — that is, he thinks he is the King of India. It has become clear from this that the Governor does not know the world history nor the Constitution of India,” the statement said.

“Does he realise that this goes against the Constitution and the oath he took while taking charge as the Governor?” they further asked.

Apart from promoting Sanatana Dharma as a “way of life” and as a principle that guides the country, Governor Ravi has also been taking a contrary stance on various other issues such as the National Education Policy, National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), etc.

DMK vs Governor

The DMK government and the Governor have been engaged in a tussle over these issues over the months. The government had also accused the Governor of sitting on various bills passed by the legislative Assembly.

Even on Friday, Governor Ravi questioned the DMK government about why it took them four days to transfer the probe in the Coimbatore car blast case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

The government refuted the criticism, saying that the state police was in constant touch with the NIA and IB officials since the time the explosion was reported.