Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi criticised the DMK-led government over rising crimes against Dalits, saying “discrimination still exists, no doubt about it.” Citing disturbing incidents, he questioned the state’s social justice claims, sparking a fresh political row.
Chennai: Less than a week after the Supreme Court slammed him up for delaying bills, Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi has once again targeted the DMK government, this time over crimes against Dalits.
His remarks drew a sharp reply from state minister Govi Chezhiaan, who called the Governor’s comments false and reminded him that his home states, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, see the highest number of caste-based crimes.
Speaking at an event commemorating the birth anniversary of B.R. Ambedkar, the architect of the Constitution and a Dalit icon, Mr. Ravi urged reflection on whether Ambedkar’s dreams have been realized.
He expressed his distress over the situation of Dalits in Tamil Nadu, stating,
“Discrimination still exists – no doubt about it. But the kind of stories we hear in Tamil Nadu, a state that claims to champion social justice, are heartbreaking. A Dalit beaten up for wearing slippers and walking on a village street. A young Dalit thrashed for riding a motorbike. A student praised by a teacher is attacked in his home. Human excreta found in water tanks. These are not isolated incidents.”
He highlighted the rising number of crimes against Dalits, noting that after 2020, such incidents have increased by 50%, particularly crimes against Dalit women, with Tamil Nadu’s conviction rate for these crimes falling below the national average.
Directing his criticism at the DMK government, he asserted,
“These are facts – not political statements,”
In response, Higher Education Minister Govi Chezhiaan sharply countered the Governor’s claims, stating they were lies. He emphasized that six BJP-ruled states, including Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, account for 81 percent of atrocities against Dalits.
He said,
“Sanatan Dharma and Manu’s principles are responsible for this. RN Ravi is an ambassador for Sanatan Dharma and has no locus standi to speak on this,”
He also questioned the Governor’s silence when Union Home Minister Amit Shah made controversial remarks about Ambedkar in the Rajya Sabha.
During a debate marking 75 years of the Constitution, Mr. Shah had remarked that “invoking Ambedkar’s name had become a fashion.” The Congress party condemned his comments as disrespectful to the Constitution’s architect, while the BJP claimed Shah was highlighting the Congress’s misuse of Ambedkar’s legacy without adhering to his principles.
Chezhiaan further suggested that the Governor was struggling to accept the recent Supreme Court ruling against him.
In a significant victory for the MK Stalin government, the Supreme Court recently ruled that Governor Ravi’s decision to withhold assent to 10 key bills was “illegal” and “arbitrary.”
The court stated,
“The action of the Governor to reserve the 10 bills for the President is illegal and arbitrary. Thus, the action is set aside. All actions taken by the Governor thereto for the 10 bills are set aside. These Bills shall be deemed to be cleared from the date it was re-presented to the Governor.”
Also Read: Supreme Court Steps In: Tamil Nadu vs. Governor Verdict Sparks Judicial Overreach Debate
The bench, comprising Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice R. Mahadevan, remarked that “Governor Ravi did not act in good faith.”
R.N. Ravi, a former IPS officer with a background in the CBI, has served as Tamil Nadu Governor since 2021. He has maintained a tense relationship with the DMK government, which has accused him of functioning as a BJP spokesperson and obstructing bills and appointments.
The Governor has contended that the Constitution grants him the authority to withhold assent to legislation.
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