DMK mounts offensive on Governor Ravi over freedom fighters’ remark

Chennai: Tamil Nadu’s ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has mounted a massive offensive on Governor R N Ravi over his statement that freedom fighters in the state have been reduced to “caste leaders” through a political conspiracy and that their contributions have been “forgotten” by asking him to “control his tongue.”

In an indication of yet another showdown, Ravi has returned the second time the file relating to the appointment of retired Director General of Police (DGP) C Sylendra Babu as the Chairman of the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) by arguing that the recommendation was inconsistent with Constitutional provisions and propriety.

The controversies come a week after the state government accused Ravi of “refusing” to sign the file with regard to the decision of the Syndicate and Senate of the Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU) to confer an honorary doctorate on N Sankaraiah, freedom fighter and veteran Communist leader.

Ravi’s latest attack on the DMK government was made on Monday during the birthday celebrations of Marudhu Brothers, who fought for India’s Independence. He said freedom fighters like Marudhu Brothers and Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar have been reduced as “caste leaders” and their birthday celebrations being confined to private affairs due to a conspiracy.

"A concerted attempt has been made in this state to erase the history of this place, to write a parallel history. A false narrative on racial divide of Dravidian and Aryan was created," Ravi said, in an attack on the Dravidian Movement.

Ravi has been quite vocal in his criticism of the Dravidian Movement, which gave birth to DMK and AIADMK that have ruled the state alternatively since 1967, and often lands in controversies for his statements.

In a lengthy statement, DMK Parliamentary Party leader T R Baalu gave a detailed list of initiatives taken by successive governments led by his party in honouring freedom fighters like Veerapandia Kattabomman, Subramania Bharathi, Tiruppur Kumar, V O Chidambaram, and Velu Nachiyar and building memorials in honour of several heroes.

“When M Karunanidhi was Chief Minister in 1997, he visited freedom fighters who were alive then to honour them as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of India’s independence. He also gave pensions to all freedom fighters. The current Chief Minister (M K Stalin) increased the monthly pension to Rs 11,000 from Rs 10,000,” Baalu said.

The DMK MP also accused Ravi of acting like a spokesperson of BJP, and asked him to resign if he cannot stop making controversial statements.

Quoting a Thirukkural penned by saint-poet Thiruvalluvar, Baalu accused Ravi of “roaming around” the state by spending taxpayers' money and not signing the files seeking sanction for prosecution of AIADMK leaders accused of corruption. 

Higher Education Minister K Ponmudy asked Ravi to sign the file relating to honorary doctorate to Sankaraiah if he was “really concerned” about the well-being of freedom fighters.

“The Governor has spoken about freedom fighters in Tamil Nadu. I would like to remind him that Sankaraiah is a freedom fighter who spent nine years in jail. If he is genuinely concerned about freedom fighters, I request him to sign the file so that Sankaraiah can be conferred the honorary doctorate on November 2,” he said.