Minutes after Governor R. N. Ravi left the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly without delivering the customary Governor’s Address, Lok Bhavan clarified that he was denied the chance to speak. This clarification follows escalating tensions between the Governor and the DMK government, resulting in a confrontation during the Assembly’s opening day. According to Lok Bhavan, the Governor refused to read the address as his microphone was frequently turned off, and he was not allowed to express his views.
The statement from Lok Bhavan described the incident as unprecedented, stating that the Governor, as the state’s constitutional head, had to withdraw due to being silenced. It was claimed that the Governor wanted to address serious issues and inaccuracies in the prepared speech but was obstructed from doing so. Lok Bhavan criticized the address for containing unsubstantiated claims and neglecting significant public concerns, disputing the government’s statement on attracting investments worth over ₹12 lakh crore.
Lok Bhavan highlighted that many of the mentioned memorandums of understanding existed only on paper, with actual investments far below the stated amount. Additionally, it pointed out a decline in Tamil Nadu’s ranking among top recipients of foreign direct investment in recent years. The statement also raised issues such as the rise in crimes against Dalits, high suicide rates, educational sector vacancies, and the absence of village panchayat elections for years, depriving citizens of grassroots democracy.
Concerns were also expressed over government control of numerous temples without proper trustee boards, stress in the MSME sector, dissatisfaction among lower-level government staff, and alleged neglect of constitutional duties, including disrespect for the National Anthem. Lok Bhavan emphasized that these issues, reflecting ground realities, should have been addressed in the crucial speech outlining the state government’s priorities.
