Guv Ravi’s arrogance in calling TN a fertile ground for extremism will have to be put down: CM Stalin

Launching a broadside against Governor RN Ravi for calling Tamil Nadu a fertile ground for extremism, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and ruling DMK president on Wednesday retorted that his hubris and arrogance have to be put down.

“This person has been appointed Governor with the sole aim of deterring the development of Tamil Nadu. In an interview (to a TV Channel) a couple of days ago, he had the temerity to call Tamil Nadu a garden of peace, as having security issues with extremism rearing its head. His arrogance and hubris have to be put down,” the Chief Minister fumed at a Government function in Erode, where he inaugurated completed development projects and laid the foundation for others besides distributing welfare assistance to beneficiaries.

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“The Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed innocent lives, took place under the watch of the BJP-led Union Government. The Red Fort bomb blast that took several lives in Delhi happened under the BJP regime, and Manipur continues to burn. And the Governor, who heaps praise on the inept BJP Government, which could not prevent the death of innocents in terrorist attacks, has the temerity to describe Tamil Nadu as infested with terrorism. It is nothing but painting the patriotic Tamils, who have always contributed more for the Defence Forces at critical junctures, as anti-nationals and deserve to be condemned,” was his sharp reaction to the Governor’s remarks.

“Unbecoming of the Constitutional office that he holds, Ravi is speaking as though those who do not vote for the BJP are terrorists. These are nothing but canards born out of inability,” he said. Responding to the Governor’s claim that Tamil development is languishing and that everybody is after English education, the Chief Minister said, “Our children are learning English so as to equip themselves for global opportunities. Why does this cause heartburn for you? We are prepared to double up on English learning! You need not take classes for us in Tamil Nadu on loving one’s mother tongue. We are PhD holders in this! If the languages of non-Hindi speaking states are alive and kicking, it is because of our heroic language war (anti-Hindi agitation) in which many sacrificed their lives.”

Finally, he asked Ravi to continue to speak like this and display the ‘hatred for Tamil’ as it would be politically and electorally beneficial to the DMK. “it makes our job easier,” he quipped.