Tamizhagam row: '#Getout Ravi' posters surface in Chennai, Tamil Nadu Governor's effigy burnt

Tamizhagam row: The row began in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Monday as the Governor arrived for his customary address at the opening session. Members of the ruling DMK and its allies, the Congress and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) started raising slogans against the Governor before staging a walkout from the Assembly.DMK MLAs raised slogans such as `Don`t impose BJP, RSS ideology`.

Chennai: Amid the row over Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi`s remark that ‘Tamizhagam’ rather than ‘Tamil Nadu’ would be a more appropriate name for the state, posters reading #Getout Ravi` have surfaced in Valluvar Kottam and Anna Salai areas of West Chennai. According to news agency ANI, Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam (TPDK) workers are protesting in Coimbatore demanding the removal of Governor RN Ravi from his post by Centre after he reportedly skipped certain parts of his speech in Assembly on Monday leading to a row over his Tamizhagam remark.

Tamil Nadu | Posters 'Get out Ravi' seen around Valluvar Kottam and Anna Salai in Chennai

A ruckus broke out in Assembly y'day when Gov RN Ravi began his address. Later, after concluding his address, he walked out when CM alleged that the Gov skipped certain parts of the speech pic.twitter.com/XU7MDDORhV — ANI (@ANI) January 10, 2023

Protesters were also seen burning his effigy and shouting slogans.

Tamil Nadu | Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam (TPDK) workers protest in Coimbatore demanding removal of Gov RN Ravi from his post by Centre, in wake of him reportedly skipping certain parts of his speech in Assembly y'day& Tamizhagam remark row. Protesters also burnt his effigy pic.twitter.com/OXMaQ2rJQE — ANI (@ANI) January 10, 2023

Amid all this, CPI(M) MP Su Venkatesan has tweeted that the invitation from Governor's House for the Pongal festival mentions him as Tamilzagam Governor, while he was mentioned as Tamil Nadu Governor in the invitation for the portrait ceremony earlier. This is also likely to further escalate the row.

Tamil Nadu or Tamilzagam row | CPI(M) MP Su Venkatesan tweets that invitation from Gov House for Pongal festival mentions the Gov as Tamilzagam Governor, while he was mentioned as Tamil Nadu Governor in invitation for the portrait ceremony earlier.

(Pics: MP's Twitter account) pic.twitter.com/ba27Jl89wf — ANI (@ANI) January 10, 2023

Meanwhile, #Getout Ravi` has also become a top trend on Twitter. The row began in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Monday as the Governor arrived for his customary address at the opening session.

Members of the ruling DMK and its allies, the Congress and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) started raising slogans against the Governor before staging a walkout from the Assembly.DMK MLAs raised slogans such as `Don`t impose BJP, RSS ideology`.The DMK and allies opposed the Governor`s stand and accused him of toeing the BJP`s ideological position.`This is not Nagaland, this is proud Tamil Nadu`, the legislators chanted.

The members also shouted slogans like, `Long Live Tamil Nadu`, and 'Condemn Governor`. The members were apparently upset with the Governor calling Tamil Nadu as `Tamizhagam` and this issue has been raging in the state for the past few days. They also questioned his right to suggest a different name for the state and accused him of unnecessarily interfering in state politics.

However, Governor Ravi continued delivering his address amid the uproar. The treasury bench also demanded a ban on online gambling. The ruling party legislators accused the Governor of sitting on a Bill banning online gambling. There is an ongoing tussle between the ruling DMK and the Raj Bhavan over several Bills which are pending the Governor`s assent, including the one against online gambling and wager-based online games.

In total, 21 Bills passed in the Assembly are pending with Raj Bhavan, as of December 2022, sources said. 

(With Agency Inputs)