National anthem ‘insulted’, Tamil Nadu Governor walks out of House

The Raj Bhavan said this was not an isolated instance and claimed the omission amounted to an insult to the national anthem.

“The national anthem is yet again insulted and the fundamental constitutional duty disregarded,” the statement said, placing the issue at the centre of the Governor’s decision to leave without delivering the address prepared by the state government.

Apart from the anthem-related objection, the Raj Bhavan said the speech drafted by the DMK government contained “numerous unsubstantiated claims and misleading statements” and failed to reflect several pressing issues faced by the people of the state. It alleged that crucial concerns had been ignored in the address.

The statement questioned the government’s claim that Tamil Nadu had attracted investments worth more than Rs 12 crore, calling the figure “far from the truth”. According to the Raj Bhavan, many memoranda of understanding signed with investors had not translated into actual investments. It said Tamil Nadu, which was once the fourth-largest recipient of foreign direct investment, was now struggling to remain at the sixth position.

The Governor’s office also flagged concerns over women’s safety, claiming that the address made no mention of a sharp rise in crimes. It cited over a 55 per cent increase in POCSO cases and a rise of more than 33 per cent in cases of molestation. The statement further alleged that atrocities against Dalits and incidents of sexual violence against Dalit women were increasing but were entirely bypassed in the speech.

Education was another area highlighted by the Raj Bhavan, which claimed there was a steady decline in standards and widespread mismanagement in educational institutions. It alleged that more than half of faculty positions had remained vacant for years, leaving students and youth facing an uncertain future.

Chief Minister MK Stalin strongly objected to the Governor’s conduct, calling the walkout unacceptable and a violation of established conventions. He later moved a resolution in the House stating that the English version of the Governor’s address would be deemed as having been delivered.

“The Governor walked out in violation of traditions and ethos. In the address prepared by the state government, there is no provision for the Governor to insert his own views or say anything else,” Stalin said. He accused RN Ravi of acting deliberately and said the walkout amounted to an insult to the Assembly itself.

• Ravi questions the government’s claim that the state had attracted investments worth more than Rs 12 crore
• Flags concerns over women’s safety, claiming that the address made no mention of a sharp rise in crime
• Claims there was a steady decline in educational standards