Pongal Invite New Flashpoint with Stalin Government by Tamil Nadu Governor
The Governor has utilised Tamizhagam in Pongal invitations despite a dispute with the DMK government over the name of the southern state.
An invitation from the Governor’s House, which refers to the state’s government as “Thamizhaga Aazhunar” rather than the Tamil Nadu government, has enraged Tamil Nadu MLAs in the Tamil Nadu versus Tamizhagam controversy, which has been stoked by Governor RN Ravi‘s recent comments about “a more appropriate name” for the state.
The Tamil invitation for the Pongal festival at the Governor’s House Raj Bhavan also omits the state government’s logo in favour of the national one.
The name Tamil Nadu Governor appears on the invitation in English.
Governor Ravi addressed the following last week at a gathering: “Everything that applies to the entire nation, Tamil Nadu will reject. It’s been ingrained. There has been a tonne of fake and subpar theses written. This has to be fixed. Truth must win out. Tamizhagam would be a better name for it. For a very long period, outsiders inflicted great destruction on the rest of the nation.”
Thamizhagam, the region’s old name, meaning “the home of the Tamil people,” whereas Tamil Nadu means “the nation of Tamils.”
By promoting the name “Thamizhagam,” the Governor is accused by the government DMK and its allies of advancing the goal of the opposition BJP and its ideological guru Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
TR Baalu, the head of the DMK, said that the man “makes assertions that are factually inaccurate and potentially hazardous.”
Even though it is only a few days old, Mr. Ravi’s invitation has stirred even additional controversy after he left the Tamil Nadu assembly yesterday over a dispute with the state government over his speech.
Su Venkatesan, a CPI(M) MP, posted images on Twitter contrasting two invitations from the governor’s residence. He claimed that whereas an earlier invitation had stated: “Tamil Nadu Governor,” the Pongal invitation referred to him as “Thamizhaga Aazhunar.”
“The Governor of Tamil Nadu was identified on the invitation to the Pongal event from the previous year’s Governor’s House. Thamizhaga Governor is mentioned on the Pongal festival invitation right now. He ought to leave the state moving just as quickly as he did yesterday from the House. He needs to be kicked out, “Leader of the Left wrote.
With his exit from the legislature, Mr. Ravi’s confrontation with the state government took a dramatic turn for the worst. After Chief Minister Stalin encouraged the Speaker to only record the printed speech prepared by the Tamil Nadu administration and approved by the Governor, it was his way of protesting.
While reading the address, the governor cut out passages that mentioned secularism, social justice, and women’s empowerment as well as figures like Periyar and BR Ambedkar.
In the assembly, DMK allies frequently yelled “Tamil Nadu” as a form of protest. On Twitter, the hashtag #GetOutRavi momentarily became popular.
With his comments at a gathering this morning, the governor added to the name controversy.
being critical of the ruling DMK for referring to the federal government as “The Tamil word Ondriyam, which also refers to a block or a tiny area, belittles the Union administration, the Governor claimed of Ondriya Arasu. There is only a problem in Tamil Nadu.” (Ondriyam is the Tamil word for blocks and union. Clearly referencing the union government is Ondriya Arasu.