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CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu governor R N Ravi on Wednesday sought to clarify that he had recently referred to the word ‘Tamizhagam’ as a more “appropriate expression” in “historical cultural context.”
“An interpretation or inference that it was a suggestion to change the name of Tamil Nadu is erroneous and far-fetched,” Ravi said in a statement.
His reference to the word ‘Tamizhagam’ at an event held in Raj Bhavan on January 4, to felicitate the volunteers of Kashi-Tamil Sangamam, a recently concluded month-long festival celebrating the age-old cultural connect of Tamils with Kashi, triggered a huge controversy. Ravi said he referred to the word ‘Tamizhagam’ while dwelling upon the historical cultural connect between the two.
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A political clash broke out in Tamil Nadu between governor RN Ravi and MK Stalin-led government over Ravi’s ‘Thamizhagam’ remark.<br /><br />
In an invitation extended by Raj Bhavan for Pongal, Ravi had used the word ‘Thamizhagam’ instead of ‘Tamil Nadu’.<br /><br />
The governor had expressed his preference for the state being called ‘Thamizhagam’ (Tamil homeland) rather than Tamil Nadu.<br /><br />
The invites were been sent to about 1,000 people, including state MPs and MLAs and prominent personalities.<br /><br />
The invite triggered a debate in social media over the use of ‘Thamizhaga’ (Thamizhaga Alunar – Tamil Nadu governor).<br /><br />
Besides, the governor had used the national emblem instead of the official emblem of the Tamil Nadu government.<br /><br />
CPM MP Su Venkatesan said the governor chose not to use the state emblem thrice in invitations.<br /><br /><br />
Earlier also, the government has had a verbal clash with the governor over 8 bills.<br /><br />
Several bills are pending with the governor including the one prohibiting online gambling. <br /><br /><br />
The fight brewed on the first day of the assembly session with Ravi skipping parts of his speech.<br /><br /><br />
The governor walked out when Stalin said that only the printed text of Ravi’s address would go into the records.<br /><br />
DMK legislators shouted “Vaazhga Tamil Nadu!” on January 9.<br /><br />
Opposition leader Edappadi K Palaniswami criticised Stalin for ‘breaking convention’.<br /><br /><br />
Stalin said the actions of Ravi, which were contrary to Dravidian model principles, were unacceptable. <br /><br />
On January 10, DMK cadres, allies and college students held protests at several places across Tamil Nadu.<br /><br />
Effigies of the governor were set on fire in a few places.<br /><br /><br />
Even as police detained the protesting TPDK members, another group from the same outfit set fire to Ravi’s effigy.<br /><br />
Posters with the words ‘#Getout Ravi’ were spotted in west Chennai.<br /><br />
‘#Getout Ravi’ has been a top trend on Twitter for the last few days.<br /><br />
“In those days, there was no ‘Tamil Nadu.’ Hence, in historical cultural context, I referred to the word ‘Tamizhagam’ as a more appropriate expression,” the governor said.
Ravi went on to add that he was issuing the clarification since the arguments that the governor was against the word ‘Tamil Nadu’ had become a topic of discussion, without understanding the basis of his speech.
The governor had earlier left for New Delhi on a two-day trip to presumably meet Union home minister Amit Shah in the wake of chief minister M K Stalin complaining to President Droupadi Murmu about his conduct in the assembly during his customary address, which was a truncated version of the printed text. This is his second visit to the capital in less than a week.
At a youth wing meeting in Anna Arivalayam a few days ago, chief minister and DMK president M K Stalin had made a veiled attack on the governor. “Today, someone laments that one should not use the word Tamil Nadu,” he said, evoking loud applause from the gathering.
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