Drama in TN Assembly: Guv Ravi walks out over 'insult' to national anthem; Lok Bhavan says ‘mic was switched off’

Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi is making headlines after the latest drama episode unfolded in the State Legislative assembly. This marks the third time that he staged a walk out after skipping the customary address.

Without delivering the customary address on the opening day of the first session of the year, RN Ravi walked out of the house on Tuesday. This action was a mark of protest after Speaker Appavu refused to accept RN Ravi's request to play the national anthem after the Tamil Anthem. In the past two years, this is the third time that the Governor walked out without reading the opening address.

Tamil Nadu's Lok Bhavan later issued a clarification through a press release stating the reasons Governor RN Ravi refused to deliver inaugural address.

"The Governor's mic was repeatedly switched off, and he was not allowed to speak... Atrocities against Dalits and sexual violence against Dalit women are sharply increasing. However, it is totally bypassed in the speech... National Anthem is yet again insulted, and the Fundamental Constitutional Duty is disregarded," the press release stated.

To protest against the ruling DMK-led State government, the opposition AIADMK staged a walkout from the Assembly.

Criticising law and order situation in Tmil Nadu, Stalin said, "Actions of the Governor insult the 100-year-old assembly. I would like to recollect the phrase of CN Annadurai who said before that, "Why does a goat need a beard, and why does a state need a Governor?"

(With agency inputs)