Ravi Unfit To Be Governor: Stalin Writes To President

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has written to President Draupadi Murmu, saying R N Ravi is unfit to be Governor as he functioned as a political opponent and looked for 'opportunities to topple the State government'.

In a letter to Murmu, Stalin wrote that the Governor has breached his oath of office by acting against the state's people and interests and against the Constitution.

Ravi 'defamed' Tamil culture, indulged in 'cheap politics,' instigated communal hatred and he is a threat to Tamil Nadu's peace, he said adding through such actions the Governor violated his oath.

A Governor who looks for 'opportunities to topple the State government' in a state ruled by a party (DMK) opposed to the party in power at the Centre (BJP) could be regarded as a mere agent of the Union government. Such a course of action pursued by a Governor would destroy the Indian democracy's basic tenets by damaging the principle of federalism. Governor RN Ravi is 'a good example' of such a behaviour. ''Ravi is stoking communal hatred and he is a threat to Tamil Nadu's peace,'' Stalin said in a letter dated July 8, 2023.

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 CM claimed in his letter. Balaji was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate last month in a cash-for-jobs case.

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

According to PTI, Stalin said Ravi made serious violation of Constitutional provisions. Initially he had declined to accept the recommendation of retaining Balaji as a Minister. Ravi also demanded on May 31 that Senthil Balaji be dropped from Cabinet till he was cleared of all criminal charges against him.

Citing Constitutional provisions and relevant laws, the CM said it was his prerogative to induct Ministers into the Cabinet or remove them. ''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 CM emphasised in his letter.

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 of India's Constitution.

In a 19-page statement --extracts from Stalin's letter to Murmu-- the government quoted the CM as saying that Ravi openly functioned against the policies of the Tamil Nadu government. The Governor caused unnecessary delay in clearing Bills passed by the Assembly besides files and posed hindrance to the work of the state government and the Assembly.

Stalin said Ravi's tenure as Governor in Nagaland was also not satisfactory and the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) there had said that there was peace only after his exit. Ever since he assumed office as TN Governor in September 2021, Ravi had all along been involved in an ideologocial and political battle with the DMK regime, duly elected by the people. Several of Ravi's activities demonstrated that he was unfit to be Governor, the CM said.

'Unnecessary delay' in giving assent to Bills passed by the Assembly, putting on hold files related to according sanction to prosecute former AIADMK Ministers, interference in police cases were among the several reasons cited by him. Under the heading, 'functioning as a political and ideological opponent of the elected state government,' Stalin said it was unbecoming of a Governor to express his political and religious opinions in public.

Through his undesirable, 'divisive religious speeches,' the Governor has been often making known that he does not have 'faith' in secularism. Stalin claimed, on November 9, 2022, Ravi's comment that 'like other parts of the world, India too is dependent on a single religion' is an affront to the Constitution.

The CM conveyed to the President that she knew well India was not dependent on any religion but only on the Constitution and laws. The nation's strength and beauty lay on pluralism and religious harmony built over several centuries. Ravi 'praising' Sanatana Dharma, 'communalising' Tamil classic Tirukkural 'condemning' Dravidian tradition and the pride of Tamil were among other points made by Stalin.