Tamil Nadu governor R N Ravi pulls no punches when he talks regarding the place of the governor and his non-public enjoy throughout the state in dealing with the DMK government. Excerpts from an interview to Jaya Menon
Had been you correct in walking out quicker than the national anthem was once as soon as carried out after the governor’s care for in January this year? You unnoticed crucial leaders’ names too.
Previous than I addressed the assembly throughout the year 2022 for the principle time, I was suggested that they don’t play the national anthem throughout the assembly. Previous than I addressed, I insisted that the national anthem will have to be carried out. And the national anthem will have to be carried out each and every at the arrival and departure of the governor and the Thamizh Thai Vazhthu too. Without reference to my insistence, they did not play the national anthem first of all even though they carried out at the time of departure. This time, when the speaker were given right here to invite me, formally, I another time requested him. In Parliament, in all assemblies, the national anthem is respected. After orally requesting him, I suggested him I am moreover sending him a letter. I sent him a letter, and to the chief minister as correctly. They did not play the national anthem.
As for the speech that the state prepares, it is typically on the government insurance coverage insurance policies and programmes. That is how it should be, and the governor is to be told it out. Alternatively the speech given to me was once as soon as full of materials where it was once as soon as neither insurance coverage insurance policies nor programmes, then again propaganda. They’d been faulty, they’d been lies. They discussed Tamil Nadu is a ‘haven of peace’ when it comes to regulation and order. I quoted some instances. In Tamil Nadu, from the very next day after the ban on PFI, a terrorist organisation, for five days, terror attacks endured, more than 50 bomb attacks on houses and automobiles and no movement was once as soon as taken.
Then the Coimbatore terror attack on a temple. Next, I mentioned the Kallakurichi college attack. An unfortunate incident happened, where a woman devoted suicide. 4 or 5 days later, 5,000 other people were given right here from far and wide, assembled at the college, burnt it down. They burnt all the certificates, library, slashed and chopped off the udders of the cows. There are motion pictures. And all this happened while the police saved gazing. However each different case, at a public meeting, some weeks quicker than the assembly care for, a lady police constable in uniform was once as soon as molested via a DMK leader. She was once as soon as compelled to withdraw the case.
Not merely that. Every other day, we concentrate about mafias. No longer too way back, the sand mafia walked into the office of a village administrative officer and hacked him to demise. And, central companies have advised the state that there are modules working for world drug and palms trafficking in Tamil Nadu and Pakistan. Now, with all this happening, you query me to say it is a ‘haven of peace’. I am oathbound to tell the oldsters of Tamil Nadu the truth.
Then, the government wanted me to praise it for very good keep an eye on of temples and the rationale they cited was once as soon as that they’ve recovered 3,000 plus acres of encroached land. That’s a very good one. Everyone knows that more than 50,000 acres of land has been encroached and recovery is just too small. Check out what happened in 2022 at the Chidambaram Nataraja temple, which is not beneath the HR & CE.
Out of vengeance, government officers of social welfare department lodged 8 court cases of child marriage against the podhu dikshithars, that they’d been marrying their youngsters underage, whilst there were no such marriages. Other folks were arrested and put in the back of prisons. And the women, sixth, seventh same old students, were forcibly taken from space to the hospitals and made to head via ‘two-finger exams’, virginity exams. A couple of of them tried to commit suicide. I wrote a letter to the chief minister, asking what is this? Now, against the backdrop of all that is going on, you want me to praise the government. Isn’t that quite a lot of?
Then they wanted me to praise and endorse the Dravidian model of governance. To begin with, there is no such model of governance. It is just a political slogan, a made up our minds bid to handle an expired ideology, an ideology that does not relish the idea of ‘Oru Bharatham, One India’. An ideology that underplays the national freedom movement, seeks to erase from history and memory, the a lot and thousands of freedom fighters from Tamil Nadu, those who gave their lives and everything and as a substitute glorifies those who collaborated with the British.
It is an ideology that rabidly enforces linguistic apartheid on the whole of the rustic. No other Indian language is permitted get admission to into Tamil Nadu. This kind of lot so that for many who be informed the recent Budget speech, the government is going to prepare a central Kalaignar library with 3. 25lakh books most simple in Tamil and English, no other language. It is an ideology that has created an ecosystem that fosters separatist sentiment. I don’t think somebody will also be anticipating me to endorse that. No, I will be able to not, and I discussed I will be able to not. After my speech, the speaker be informed out the Tamil style, I waited.
Alternatively against the protocol, against the norms, the chief minister got up and in connivance with the speaker, wanted to embarrass the governor in the house via passing an answer against the governor. I didn’t allow them to try this. How can you embarrass the governor, in his presence? So, I walked out. Let them not tell me about Dr Ambedkar. This happened in January, quicker than I got his statue installed proper right here. He lives in my middle.
How is your personal rapport with CM M K Stalin?
This is very good. In fact, I have an excellent per- sonal regard for him. A very good person. I have been very courteous to him. He has moreover been courteous to me. On a private front, we now have now a very good courting.
Your view on governors being accused of interfering in state governance.
It is an ill-informed accusation that the governor is crossing the street. It is totally absurd to say that. As far as I know, the governor has only one line. That is the line drawn throughout the Constitution of India. The governor is a protector, meant to give protection to that line. The Constitution draws a line for everyone. Now, within the state, if the government tends to move that line, it is the governor’s duty to restrain them. I really marvel in what method a governor can intervene. The entire gear of governance are with the state government, no longer the rest the least bit with the governor. Now, the governor’s duty is to acknowledge the sacred line. If the state government tries to overstep the street, it is the governor’s duty to restrain the state.
What is your view on governors being used as political tools in states the ruling birthday party at the Centre does not govern?
I don’t have any comment on that.
The Absolute best Court docket docket has discussed governors will have to assent or send once more bills as soon as conceivable. Your commentary?
No, they put that out of context. The question is if the bill has been returned to the assembly and if the assembly has passed it and sent it as soon as conceivable, the governor will have to give his assent. There is no question of withholding then again that is throughout the context most simple when he returns the bill to the assembly. Not differently.
What choice of Bills forwarded throughout the TN assembly are pending with you at the moment?
There is no bill pending quicker than the Raj Bhavan or the governor. After I were given right here proper right here in (September) 2021, I gained 19 bills. I sent 18. Person who was once as soon as NEET, I reserved for the President on account of it is throughout the concurrent report. In 2022, I gained 59 of which 48 I sent, 3 reserved for the President, one the state has withdrawn and for 8, assent withheld. That means no bill of 2022 pending.
In 2023, I gained seven, all seven were assented to. A lot of observe and drama was once as soon as made out that the governor discussed if the bill (in regards to the bill to ban online enjoying) is withheld, it is not alive. And a power has been created that if a bill is passed throughout the assembly it must be assented to. Please be informed Article 200 of the Constitution. It says when a Bill has been passed throughout the legislative assembly, or relating to a state having a legislative council, has been passed via each and every houses, it’ll most probably be offered to the governor and the governor shall declare each that he assents to the bill or that he withholds assent therefrom or that he reserves the bill for the honour of the President.
So, when a bill, which is not a money bill, goes to the governor, he has 3 possible choices. He assents to the bill; withholds assent; and third, reserves it for the President. After I say assent has been withheld, the bill has fallen by means of. There shouldn’t be any confusion. There is also however another option that if the governor comes to a decision, he would most likely return the bill to the legislature for reconsideration. And if the legislature after reconsideration sends it, the governor has to provide assent. That I have achieved in two cases (along with the web enjoying bill).
The 8 bills you withheld pertain to Universities?
Positive. The reason why I withheld the ones is on account of coaching is a concurrent subject. The SC has over and over held that the Faculty Grants Rate (UGC) Act of 1956 has the facility of a statute, and any state provision will have to be consistent with that. The UGC Act and regulations mandate that higher educational institutions will have to be self enough and insulated from political interference. That is the position. In Tamil Nadu, our state universities are unfortunately being run as a state department. Syndicate meetings are held at the state secretariat. Autonomy has been nearly completely taken away. The only saving grace is the appointment of vice-chancellors. At least the V-C should be the correct person. And, that is the accountability of the chancellor. If that also goes to the state chief minister, it comes completely beneath political control. And this is not conceivable.
What is the status of the Siddha Faculty bill?
The Siddha Faculty Bill when it was once as soon as to be offered, I had to conform to assent it, with the commentary that it will have to be consistent with the UGC Act and rules. There another time the chancellor is the chief minister and it comes throughout the state report. I discussed this is not conceivable. So, the bill has been withheld.
Your response to the allegations of finance code violations and misuse of governor’s discretionary funds.
I don’t expect them to be civil or first charge. Alternatively I did expect them to be honest and honest to the oldsters of Tamil Nadu. What the (finance) minister (Palanivel Thiaga Rajan) discussed was once as soon as just a bunch of utter lies. To start with, he discussed the governor’s discretionary grant as consistent with the finance code is for petty charities, a few thousand rupees to needy people. He suggested a lie for the reason that word ‘petty’ was once as soon as removed from the finance code throughout the year 2000 itself. It says that within the available funds, there cannot be and should not be a limit; that is, the governor’s discretion should not be limited. Secondly, he mentioned Akshaya Patra. Another time, he suggested lies on account of throughout the year 2000, the then governor, fascinated by heavy dropout of poor students, wanted to supply a wholesome free meal a day, that would reduce the dropout.
Akshaya Patra is a very renowned NGO. They provide free meals to about two million poor other people every day. Akshaya Patra volunteered to supply a free meal to the GCC schools. All that they wanted was once as soon as a hygienic kitchen. The estimate of that kitchen was once as soon as Rs 5 crore. The governor sanctioned this amount from his discretionary grant, introduced it in instalments, and constituted a committee of the state government, headed via the additional chief secretary of the state to observe it. A sum of Rs 4. 5lakh was once as soon as introduced, Rs 50 lakh on of completion of work. In December 2021, the kitchen was once as soon as whole. They went to the corporate for a water and gas connection. Corporate didn’t give them. They’d been suggested everything is ok, then again they’ve instructions from the CM’s office, you move and get it looked after available in the market. For the final 16 months Akshaya Patra has been running to the CM office. They have not succeeded in getting the CM appointment. The entire bureaucracy are there, the monetary establishment transactions.
Another insinuation was once as soon as that the governor was once as soon as keeping up tea occasions, spending lakhs of rupees. Traditionally, on Republic Day and Independence Day, the Raj Bhavan organizes ‘At Space’ – it is a birthday party of our Independence and it happens everywhere the country. Earlier, it was once as soon as basically officials. I changed that. While officials it will be there, their amount was once as soon as reasonably trimmed and we got a broader spectrum of other people – farmers, youth, SHGs, NGOs, other people with disabilities, other folks artists, classical artists, all sections. Over 3,000 other people were attending the ‘At Space’. To say it is the governor’s tea birthday party is an insult, an insult to the oldsters of TN and the birthday party of a National Day.
Then they discussed money was once as soon as being spent on civil supplier aspirants. After I joined the civil supplier, TN had a very powerful selection of civil servants. In recent years, we are method underneath such a large amount of states. So, I started getting poor students in batches, 250 to 300 of them. I give them tips, data them on learn the way to get able. I will be able to no longer send them once more hungry. I have to feed them. I am questioning why the government should nurse a grudge about this. He (PTR) suggested a few of these lies.
He (PTR) discussed in Ooty, the governor held a tea birthday party and spent a few lakhs of rupees. You understand what this tea birthday party is… a few of these indigenous other people, they are tribes of Nilgiris. They’d been invited, they’d been my guests. We spent all the night time with them, taking note of them. The Elephant Whisperers were moreover there, quicker than they got the Oscar and quicker than other people were given right here to know about them. I pay the foods bill for myself and my family members. Beneath the governor’s privileges and allowances, the governor is not obliged to try this. Alternatively I perpetually pay the foods bill. They may be able to no longer carry a finger at me.
Why has the selection of civil aspirants passing out of TN gone down?
That’s for the reason that top quality of our coaching has gone down so considerably. Inside the early Nineteen Fifties, Nineteen Sixties, 1970s, the standard of our universities was once as soon as high. The Madras Faculty was once as soon as inside the most productive 10. In recent years, it is the a centesimal or so. Unfortunately, none of our universities come inside the most productive magnificence. Spreading coaching, fundamental knowledge, finding out, writing, arithmetic is not enough this present day. This is a competitive world. Your educating, your coaching must be qualitative. Our boys and girls are denied that. In recent years, our youths in Tamil Nadu are completely insulated, they don’t get what is going on outdoor, throughout the country. The educational necessities have gone down extremely and they aren’t getting steering. And that’s reflected throughout the poor potency in civil services.
What you spoke about Sanatana Dharma is being observed together with Varnashrama Dharma. Isn’t there something previous this?
This is a mischievous interpretation of Indian secularism. And, it is been achieved via vested passion groups. When the Constitution was once as soon as being drafted, no person idea there was once as soon as a need for secularism to be offered throughout the constitution. Alternatively one member K T Shah raised the issue. The entire constituent assembly unanimously discussed secularism is a Eu concept where it was once as soon as born out of the hostility between the Church and the State. Our secularism is similar acknowledge to all. So, to say that our governors should not discuss religion, should not discuss dharma, that can be a unsuitable belief. And when we discuss similar acknowledge to all, that’s what Sanatana Dharma is. Why interpret it when it comes to caste, creed? The ones are mischievous distortions.
In fact, as a believer in Sanatana Dharma, I will be able to no longer distance myself from any religion. Be it Islam, be it Christianity. The moment I am getting began saying they are different, then It’s not that i am a believer in Sanatana Dharma on account of there is no question of exclusivity.
BJP delegation had known as on you for an inquiry into ‘DMK data’. What do you plan to do?
As it was once as soon as formally brought to my understand, due cognisance is being taken.
Your critics say that the Raj Bhavan has been remodeled proper right into a coffee retailer together with your meetings with rather numerous sections.
The word Raj Bhavan is a vestige of the colonial events. In a democracy, a constitutional office is called Raj Bhavan… The governor is not a Raja. That isn’t correct. In fact, Now, I am considerably considering of changing the determine of Raj Bhavan. I need to title it Lok Bhavan. It should be a public area. There is a protocol to modify the determine, then again I will be able to industry it.
As far as meeting the oldsters is anxious, the governor comes to a decision the constitutional accountability that he has. The governor is predicted to be an influence for the nice of the oldsters of the state. And that’s the reason why I meet youth, students, NGOs, disabled other people, other folks artists, and so on. In fact, in recent years we hosted transgenders on account of they are one amongst us.
You are a former police officer. What is your comment on deliverance of policing in TN?
The TN police is also superb, welltrained and moderately well-equipped. Alternatively it is deeply politicised, intently politicised. I’ll give you an example. I (my convoy) was once as soon as attacked with sticks and stones (in April 2022) when I was going to the Dharmapuram Adheenam. 2nd, there were some threats and abuses. In each and every the cases, the governor lodged the FIR and police did not join it. This was once as soon as for the reason that accused were from the ruling birthday party. Now, if a governor cannot get an FIR registered, that doesn’t communicate correctly of the police.
What is your opinion on the normal governance of the DMK government?
It is going to not be appropriate for me to commentary on the potency of the government. It is for the oldsters to judge. For individuals who query me what the single-most vital worry that I have is, it is the steep decline in our human helpful useful resource top quality. I don’t have the best wisdom, then again we (Tamil Nadu) is also a very powerful producer of engineers throughout the country. But when I met the trade representatives, I asked them why they aren’t expanding. They discussed this year, 90% of our engineers are unemployable. The decline is going on in universities, relating to top quality. I met associate professors with 12 to 15 years of training. Barring a few, one wonders how the remainder got the duty. My passion is building the rustic. And the rustic can most simple be built if our citizens, intellectually and ability good, are the best. Once upon a time, TN was once as soon as the best. In recent years we are sliding down, and steeply sliding down. It doesn’t topic which birthday party is instead of trade. Our nation will have to broaden, and it may be able to broaden most simple when our citizens are capable and for that you just should invest in top quality coaching.
How have you ever ever connected with Tamil other people?
From my enjoy with Tamil other people, they are extraordinarily cultured, deeply spiritual, and exceedingly hospitable. On the subject of Tamil literature, I have limited knowledge. I started finding out antique literature -Sangam literature, maximum repeatedly by means of English translations. I was astounded throughout the depth of idea and richness of the literature.
Then I come across Thirukkural. I was floored. It is such an improbable treasure – a novel mixture of dharma shastra and needhi shastra. I believe it is a divine blessing that I have the danger to go back and serve in TN. It is great, the literature, such great other people, who are deeply civilised, cultured, spiritual. That’s why it makes me marvel. There seems to be a disjoint between how the individuals are and the way in which the politics is. Between other people and politics, I get a distinct sense. I can’t expect civility and decency from politics proper right here. On the contrary, you get loads when you move to the oldsters.
Had been you correct in walking out quicker than the national anthem was once as soon as carried out after the governor’s care for in January this year? You unnoticed crucial leaders’ names too.
Previous than I addressed the assembly throughout the year 2022 for the principle time, I was suggested that they don’t play the national anthem throughout the assembly. Previous than I addressed, I insisted that the national anthem will have to be carried out. And the national anthem will have to be carried out each and every at the arrival and departure of the governor and the Thamizh Thai Vazhthu too. Without reference to my insistence, they did not play the national anthem first of all even though they carried out at the time of departure. This time, when the speaker were given right here to invite me, formally, I another time requested him. In Parliament, in all assemblies, the national anthem is respected. After orally requesting him, I suggested him I am moreover sending him a letter. I sent him a letter, and to the chief minister as correctly. They did not play the national anthem.
As for the speech that the state prepares, it is typically on the government insurance coverage insurance policies and programmes. That is how it should be, and the governor is to be told it out. Alternatively the speech given to me was once as soon as full of materials where it was once as soon as neither insurance coverage insurance policies nor programmes, then again propaganda. They’d been faulty, they’d been lies. They discussed Tamil Nadu is a ‘haven of peace’ when it comes to regulation and order. I quoted some instances. In Tamil Nadu, from the very next day after the ban on PFI, a terrorist organisation, for five days, terror attacks endured, more than 50 bomb attacks on houses and automobiles and no movement was once as soon as taken.
Then the Coimbatore terror attack on a temple. Next, I mentioned the Kallakurichi college attack. An unfortunate incident happened, where a woman devoted suicide. 4 or 5 days later, 5,000 other people were given right here from far and wide, assembled at the college, burnt it down. They burnt all the certificates, library, slashed and chopped off the udders of the cows. There are motion pictures. And all this happened while the police saved gazing. However each different case, at a public meeting, some weeks quicker than the assembly care for, a lady police constable in uniform was once as soon as molested via a DMK leader. She was once as soon as compelled to withdraw the case.
Not merely that. Every other day, we concentrate about mafias. No longer too way back, the sand mafia walked into the office of a village administrative officer and hacked him to demise. And, central companies have advised the state that there are modules working for world drug and palms trafficking in Tamil Nadu and Pakistan. Now, with all this happening, you query me to say it is a ‘haven of peace’. I am oathbound to tell the oldsters of Tamil Nadu the truth.
Then, the government wanted me to praise it for very good keep an eye on of temples and the rationale they cited was once as soon as that they’ve recovered 3,000 plus acres of encroached land. That’s a very good one. Everyone knows that more than 50,000 acres of land has been encroached and recovery is just too small. Check out what happened in 2022 at the Chidambaram Nataraja temple, which is not beneath the HR & CE.
Out of vengeance, government officers of social welfare department lodged 8 court cases of child marriage against the podhu dikshithars, that they’d been marrying their youngsters underage, whilst there were no such marriages. Other folks were arrested and put in the back of prisons. And the women, sixth, seventh same old students, were forcibly taken from space to the hospitals and made to head via ‘two-finger exams’, virginity exams. A couple of of them tried to commit suicide. I wrote a letter to the chief minister, asking what is this? Now, against the backdrop of all that is going on, you want me to praise the government. Isn’t that quite a lot of?
Then they wanted me to praise and endorse the Dravidian model of governance. To begin with, there is no such model of governance. It is just a political slogan, a made up our minds bid to handle an expired ideology, an ideology that does not relish the idea of ‘Oru Bharatham, One India’. An ideology that underplays the national freedom movement, seeks to erase from history and memory, the a lot and thousands of freedom fighters from Tamil Nadu, those who gave their lives and everything and as a substitute glorifies those who collaborated with the British.
It is an ideology that rabidly enforces linguistic apartheid on the whole of the rustic. No other Indian language is permitted get admission to into Tamil Nadu. This kind of lot so that for many who be informed the recent Budget speech, the government is going to prepare a central Kalaignar library with 3. 25lakh books most simple in Tamil and English, no other language. It is an ideology that has created an ecosystem that fosters separatist sentiment. I don’t think somebody will also be anticipating me to endorse that. No, I will be able to not, and I discussed I will be able to not. After my speech, the speaker be informed out the Tamil style, I waited.
Alternatively against the protocol, against the norms, the chief minister got up and in connivance with the speaker, wanted to embarrass the governor in the house via passing an answer against the governor. I didn’t allow them to try this. How can you embarrass the governor, in his presence? So, I walked out. Let them not tell me about Dr Ambedkar. This happened in January, quicker than I got his statue installed proper right here. He lives in my middle.
How is your personal rapport with CM M K Stalin?
This is very good. In fact, I have an excellent per- sonal regard for him. A very good person. I have been very courteous to him. He has moreover been courteous to me. On a private front, we now have now a very good courting.
Your view on governors being accused of interfering in state governance.
It is an ill-informed accusation that the governor is crossing the street. It is totally absurd to say that. As far as I know, the governor has only one line. That is the line drawn throughout the Constitution of India. The governor is a protector, meant to give protection to that line. The Constitution draws a line for everyone. Now, within the state, if the government tends to move that line, it is the governor’s duty to restrain them. I really marvel in what method a governor can intervene. The entire gear of governance are with the state government, no longer the rest the least bit with the governor. Now, the governor’s duty is to acknowledge the sacred line. If the state government tries to overstep the street, it is the governor’s duty to restrain the state.
What is your view on governors being used as political tools in states the ruling birthday party at the Centre does not govern?
I don’t have any comment on that.
The Absolute best Court docket docket has discussed governors will have to assent or send once more bills as soon as conceivable. Your commentary?
No, they put that out of context. The question is if the bill has been returned to the assembly and if the assembly has passed it and sent it as soon as conceivable, the governor will have to give his assent. There is no question of withholding then again that is throughout the context most simple when he returns the bill to the assembly. Not differently.
What choice of Bills forwarded throughout the TN assembly are pending with you at the moment?
There is no bill pending quicker than the Raj Bhavan or the governor. After I were given right here proper right here in (September) 2021, I gained 19 bills. I sent 18. Person who was once as soon as NEET, I reserved for the President on account of it is throughout the concurrent report. In 2022, I gained 59 of which 48 I sent, 3 reserved for the President, one the state has withdrawn and for 8, assent withheld. That means no bill of 2022 pending.
In 2023, I gained seven, all seven were assented to. A lot of observe and drama was once as soon as made out that the governor discussed if the bill (in regards to the bill to ban online enjoying) is withheld, it is not alive. And a power has been created that if a bill is passed throughout the assembly it must be assented to. Please be informed Article 200 of the Constitution. It says when a Bill has been passed throughout the legislative assembly, or relating to a state having a legislative council, has been passed via each and every houses, it’ll most probably be offered to the governor and the governor shall declare each that he assents to the bill or that he withholds assent therefrom or that he reserves the bill for the honour of the President.
So, when a bill, which is not a money bill, goes to the governor, he has 3 possible choices. He assents to the bill; withholds assent; and third, reserves it for the President. After I say assent has been withheld, the bill has fallen by means of. There shouldn’t be any confusion. There is also however another option that if the governor comes to a decision, he would most likely return the bill to the legislature for reconsideration. And if the legislature after reconsideration sends it, the governor has to provide assent. That I have achieved in two cases (along with the web enjoying bill).
The 8 bills you withheld pertain to Universities?
Positive. The reason why I withheld the ones is on account of coaching is a concurrent subject. The SC has over and over held that the Faculty Grants Rate (UGC) Act of 1956 has the facility of a statute, and any state provision will have to be consistent with that. The UGC Act and regulations mandate that higher educational institutions will have to be self enough and insulated from political interference. That is the position. In Tamil Nadu, our state universities are unfortunately being run as a state department. Syndicate meetings are held at the state secretariat. Autonomy has been nearly completely taken away. The only saving grace is the appointment of vice-chancellors. At least the V-C should be the correct person. And, that is the accountability of the chancellor. If that also goes to the state chief minister, it comes completely beneath political control. And this is not conceivable.
What is the status of the Siddha Faculty bill?
The Siddha Faculty Bill when it was once as soon as to be offered, I had to conform to assent it, with the commentary that it will have to be consistent with the UGC Act and rules. There another time the chancellor is the chief minister and it comes throughout the state report. I discussed this is not conceivable. So, the bill has been withheld.
Your response to the allegations of finance code violations and misuse of governor’s discretionary funds.
I don’t expect them to be civil or first charge. Alternatively I did expect them to be honest and honest to the oldsters of Tamil Nadu. What the (finance) minister (Palanivel Thiaga Rajan) discussed was once as soon as just a bunch of utter lies. To start with, he discussed the governor’s discretionary grant as consistent with the finance code is for petty charities, a few thousand rupees to needy people. He suggested a lie for the reason that word ‘petty’ was once as soon as removed from the finance code throughout the year 2000 itself. It says that within the available funds, there cannot be and should not be a limit; that is, the governor’s discretion should not be limited. Secondly, he mentioned Akshaya Patra. Another time, he suggested lies on account of throughout the year 2000, the then governor, fascinated by heavy dropout of poor students, wanted to supply a wholesome free meal a day, that would reduce the dropout.
Akshaya Patra is a very renowned NGO. They provide free meals to about two million poor other people every day. Akshaya Patra volunteered to supply a free meal to the GCC schools. All that they wanted was once as soon as a hygienic kitchen. The estimate of that kitchen was once as soon as Rs 5 crore. The governor sanctioned this amount from his discretionary grant, introduced it in instalments, and constituted a committee of the state government, headed via the additional chief secretary of the state to observe it. A sum of Rs 4. 5lakh was once as soon as introduced, Rs 50 lakh on of completion of work. In December 2021, the kitchen was once as soon as whole. They went to the corporate for a water and gas connection. Corporate didn’t give them. They’d been suggested everything is ok, then again they’ve instructions from the CM’s office, you move and get it looked after available in the market. For the final 16 months Akshaya Patra has been running to the CM office. They have not succeeded in getting the CM appointment. The entire bureaucracy are there, the monetary establishment transactions.
Another insinuation was once as soon as that the governor was once as soon as keeping up tea occasions, spending lakhs of rupees. Traditionally, on Republic Day and Independence Day, the Raj Bhavan organizes ‘At Space’ – it is a birthday party of our Independence and it happens everywhere the country. Earlier, it was once as soon as basically officials. I changed that. While officials it will be there, their amount was once as soon as reasonably trimmed and we got a broader spectrum of other people – farmers, youth, SHGs, NGOs, other people with disabilities, other folks artists, classical artists, all sections. Over 3,000 other people were attending the ‘At Space’. To say it is the governor’s tea birthday party is an insult, an insult to the oldsters of TN and the birthday party of a National Day.
Then they discussed money was once as soon as being spent on civil supplier aspirants. After I joined the civil supplier, TN had a very powerful selection of civil servants. In recent years, we are method underneath such a large amount of states. So, I started getting poor students in batches, 250 to 300 of them. I give them tips, data them on learn the way to get able. I will be able to no longer send them once more hungry. I have to feed them. I am questioning why the government should nurse a grudge about this. He (PTR) suggested a few of these lies.
He (PTR) discussed in Ooty, the governor held a tea birthday party and spent a few lakhs of rupees. You understand what this tea birthday party is… a few of these indigenous other people, they are tribes of Nilgiris. They’d been invited, they’d been my guests. We spent all the night time with them, taking note of them. The Elephant Whisperers were moreover there, quicker than they got the Oscar and quicker than other people were given right here to know about them. I pay the foods bill for myself and my family members. Beneath the governor’s privileges and allowances, the governor is not obliged to try this. Alternatively I perpetually pay the foods bill. They may be able to no longer carry a finger at me.
Why has the selection of civil aspirants passing out of TN gone down?
That’s for the reason that top quality of our coaching has gone down so considerably. Inside the early Nineteen Fifties, Nineteen Sixties, 1970s, the standard of our universities was once as soon as high. The Madras Faculty was once as soon as inside the most productive 10. In recent years, it is the a centesimal or so. Unfortunately, none of our universities come inside the most productive magnificence. Spreading coaching, fundamental knowledge, finding out, writing, arithmetic is not enough this present day. This is a competitive world. Your educating, your coaching must be qualitative. Our boys and girls are denied that. In recent years, our youths in Tamil Nadu are completely insulated, they don’t get what is going on outdoor, throughout the country. The educational necessities have gone down extremely and they aren’t getting steering. And that’s reflected throughout the poor potency in civil services.
What you spoke about Sanatana Dharma is being observed together with Varnashrama Dharma. Isn’t there something previous this?
This is a mischievous interpretation of Indian secularism. And, it is been achieved via vested passion groups. When the Constitution was once as soon as being drafted, no person idea there was once as soon as a need for secularism to be offered throughout the constitution. Alternatively one member K T Shah raised the issue. The entire constituent assembly unanimously discussed secularism is a Eu concept where it was once as soon as born out of the hostility between the Church and the State. Our secularism is similar acknowledge to all. So, to say that our governors should not discuss religion, should not discuss dharma, that can be a unsuitable belief. And when we discuss similar acknowledge to all, that’s what Sanatana Dharma is. Why interpret it when it comes to caste, creed? The ones are mischievous distortions.
In fact, as a believer in Sanatana Dharma, I will be able to no longer distance myself from any religion. Be it Islam, be it Christianity. The moment I am getting began saying they are different, then It’s not that i am a believer in Sanatana Dharma on account of there is no question of exclusivity.
BJP delegation had known as on you for an inquiry into ‘DMK data’. What do you plan to do?
As it was once as soon as formally brought to my understand, due cognisance is being taken.
Your critics say that the Raj Bhavan has been remodeled proper right into a coffee retailer together with your meetings with rather numerous sections.
The word Raj Bhavan is a vestige of the colonial events. In a democracy, a constitutional office is called Raj Bhavan… The governor is not a Raja. That isn’t correct. In fact, Now, I am considerably considering of changing the determine of Raj Bhavan. I need to title it Lok Bhavan. It should be a public area. There is a protocol to modify the determine, then again I will be able to industry it.
As far as meeting the oldsters is anxious, the governor comes to a decision the constitutional accountability that he has. The governor is predicted to be an influence for the nice of the oldsters of the state. And that’s the reason why I meet youth, students, NGOs, disabled other people, other folks artists, and so on. In fact, in recent years we hosted transgenders on account of they are one amongst us.
You are a former police officer. What is your comment on deliverance of policing in TN?
The TN police is also superb, welltrained and moderately well-equipped. Alternatively it is deeply politicised, intently politicised. I’ll give you an example. I (my convoy) was once as soon as attacked with sticks and stones (in April 2022) when I was going to the Dharmapuram Adheenam. 2nd, there were some threats and abuses. In each and every the cases, the governor lodged the FIR and police did not join it. This was once as soon as for the reason that accused were from the ruling birthday party. Now, if a governor cannot get an FIR registered, that doesn’t communicate correctly of the police.
What is your opinion on the normal governance of the DMK government?
It is going to not be appropriate for me to commentary on the potency of the government. It is for the oldsters to judge. For individuals who query me what the single-most vital worry that I have is, it is the steep decline in our human helpful useful resource top quality. I don’t have the best wisdom, then again we (Tamil Nadu) is also a very powerful producer of engineers throughout the country. But when I met the trade representatives, I asked them why they aren’t expanding. They discussed this year, 90% of our engineers are unemployable. The decline is going on in universities, relating to top quality. I met associate professors with 12 to 15 years of training. Barring a few, one wonders how the remainder got the duty. My passion is building the rustic. And the rustic can most simple be built if our citizens, intellectually and ability good, are the best. Once upon a time, TN was once as soon as the best. In recent years we are sliding down, and steeply sliding down. It doesn’t topic which birthday party is instead of trade. Our nation will have to broaden, and it may be able to broaden most simple when our citizens are capable and for that you just should invest in top quality coaching.
How have you ever ever connected with Tamil other people?
From my enjoy with Tamil other people, they are extraordinarily cultured, deeply spiritual, and exceedingly hospitable. On the subject of Tamil literature, I have limited knowledge. I started finding out antique literature -Sangam literature, maximum repeatedly by means of English translations. I was astounded throughout the depth of idea and richness of the literature.
Then I come across Thirukkural. I was floored. It is such an improbable treasure – a novel mixture of dharma shastra and needhi shastra. I believe it is a divine blessing that I have the danger to go back and serve in TN. It is great, the literature, such great other people, who are deeply civilised, cultured, spiritual. That’s why it makes me marvel. There seems to be a disjoint between how the individuals are and the way in which the politics is. Between other people and politics, I get a distinct sense. I can’t expect civility and decency from politics proper right here. On the contrary, you get loads when you move to the oldsters.
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