‘National anthem is yet again insulted’: TN Governor walks out of House without delivering opening address

Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi on Tuesday walked out of the state assembly over the National Anthem row. According to reports, Governor Ravi demanded that the National Anthem be played after the Tamil Anthem.

However, Tamil Nadu Speaker Appavu allegedly refused, following which the Governor walked out of the Assembly without reading the opening address.

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After the Governor’s walkout, the Lok Bhavan issued a press release informing about the reasons why Governor RN Ravi walked out of the assembly before delivering his inaugural address.

The release stated that the Governor’s mic was repeatedly switched off and that he was not allowed to speak.

“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…The National Anthem is yet again insulted, and the Fundamental Constitutional Duty is disregarded,” the Lok Bhavan, earlier known as Raj Bhavan, said.

This is the third such instance when Governor Ravi walked out of the Assembly without reading his opening remarks. He had also boycotted the 2024 and 2025 addresses over the same issue as well.

In January last year, Ravi’s office said that he left the House with deep anguish over the alleged insult to the Constitution and the National Anthem.

His office alleged that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and the Speaker did not allow the National Anthem to be sung in the House, ignoring the Governor’s “fervent” appeals.

“Today on arrival of Governor to the House only Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu (State anthem) was sung. Governor respectfully reminded the House of its Constitutional Duty and fervently appealed to the Hon’ble Chief Minister who is the Leader of the House and the Hon’ble Speaker for singing the National Anthem. However, they cussedly refused. It is a matter of grave concern. Not to be a party to such brazen disrespect to the Constitution and the National Anthem, Governor in deep anguish left the House,” the Raj Bhavan had claimed in a statement.

Stalin, however, dismissed his allegations, terming the Governor’s behaviour “childish”. He further alleged that it has now become his habit to leave the House without reading his opening remarks.