The annual observance of Mahatma Gandhi’s dying anniversary on Thursday turn out to be the most recent flashpoint between Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi and the ruling DMK authorities with the previous accusing Chief Minister M Ok Stalin of “stubbornly refusing” to carry the Martyrs’ Day tribute at Gandhi Mandapam, a memorial in-built honour of the Father of the Nation.
The state authorities organised the occasion on the Authorities Museum complicated in Egmore, citing ongoing metro rail development on the conventional venue on Marina Seaside, and dismissed Ravi’s allegations as “politically motivated”.
Governor Ravi paid floral tributes on the Gandhi Mandapam, whereas Stalin, accompanied by his ministers, attended the occasion on the Museum complicated. The Chief Minister additionally administered an anti-untouchability pledge on the Secretariat.
“Does it make any sense to look at Gandhi memorial occasions — his birthday and martyrdom day — in a nook of a metropolis museum,” Ravi mentioned in an announcement. “My repeated requests to the Chief Minister to accord due respect to the Father of the Nation and maintain such occasions in a befitting method on the Gandhi Mandapam met with cussed refusal.”
The Governor additional alleged that the Dravidian motion had traditionally been antagonistic towards Gandhi. “Throughout his lifetime, Gandhi was vigorously opposed and mocked by the followers of Dravidian ideology. However ought to he proceed to be mocked even as we speak,” he mentioned.
Stressing the significance of Gandhi Mandapam, Governor Ravi recalled that it was constructed on a sprawling piece of land close to Guindy Nationwide Park in 1956 below the management of then chief minister Ok Kamaraj. “Gandhi Mandapam is a grand memorial of the Father of the Nation constructed by Kamaraj. Why ought to Gandhi’s memorial occasions not be held there,” he requested.
Reacting to the Governor’s allegations, Info and Tamil Growth Minister M P Saminathan mentioned the chosen venue was not an obscure location, as prompt by Ravi. “An in depth have a look at the pictures of the Chief Minister’s occasion will present that respects had been paid to Mahatma Gandhi not in a ‘nook’ of the museum however on the entrance, overlooking a major highway,” he mentioned.
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“We’re patriots, and we love Gandhi. We don’t have a good time his assassins. The Governor is aware of who killed Gandhi and why he was killed. Isn’t it a proven fact that Gandhi was assassinated by Hindutva terrorists,” he requested.
A senior authorities official, talking on situation of anonymity, mentioned the state has the prerogative to determine the venue of official occasions. “The Governor will not be an organising authority. The federal government prompt Egmore Museum due to metro development close to Marina Seaside, and the Governor’s insistence on Gandhi Mandapam was neither sensible nor crucial,” the official mentioned.
The dispute over Martyrs’ Day occasion is the most recent in a collection of public confrontations between the Governor and the DMK authorities. Earlier this month, Ravi walked out of the Tamil Nadu Meeting with out studying the customary Governor’s tackle, triggering a contemporary political storm. The DMK has often accused him of overstepping his constitutional function and interfering in state administration.
Regardless of these tensions, Stalin just lately made a tongue-in-cheek comment suggesting that Ravi’s presence as Governor advantages the DMK politically. “Have we ever adopted a decision within the Meeting looking for to exchange the Governor? No, we didn’t result in any such decision. He ought to stay. The DMK is rising additional due to him,” Stalin mentioned at a celebration occasion final week.
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“He ought to come to the Home. We’ll give him the ready speech textual content. He mustn’t learn it and stage a walkout. And the individuals ought to watch all of it,” Stalin mentioned.
