Shortly after the Governor exited the 234-member House, the Raj Bhavan (Lok Bhavan) released a comprehensive 13-point statement detailing the reasoning behind his choice.
The statement revealed that the Governor’s “mic was repeatedly switched off and he was not allowed to speak,” which led him to withdraw from the proceedings.
‘Unsubstantiated claims’ in address text
The Lok Bhavan contended that the government-prepared address contained “numerous unsubstantiated claims and misleading statements” while overlooking various pressing public issues.
One major point of contention was the government’s assertion of attracting investments exceeding Rs 12 lakh crore.
“The claim that the state secured massive investments of over 12 lakh crores is far from accurate,” the statement asserted, mentioning that many memoranda of understanding “exist merely on paper” and that Tamil Nadu’s rank among the top recipients of foreign direct investment has dropped from fourth to sixth place.
Law and order, social issues flagged
The Governor’s office also criticized the government for neglecting significant social issues. It highlighted an “alarming rise of over 55% in POCSO rapes and a more than 33% increase in incidents of sexual violence against women,” stating that the safety of women was overlooked in the address.
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Escalating drug abuse among youth, including school-aged children, was labeled as a “serious concern,” with Lok Bhavan asserting that over 2,000 predominantly young individuals died by suicide within a year due to addiction. It also pointed out a significant increase in atrocities against Dalits and sexual violence targeting Dalit women, which was absent from the address.
Suicide, education and local governance
Addressing mental health issues, the statement reported that nearly 20,000 individuals succumb to suicide annually in the state, labeling Tamil Nadu as the “Suicide Capital of India,” and accused the government of apathy.
The Governor also mentioned a “steady decline” in educational standards, noting that more than 50% of faculty positions have been unfilled for years. He further claimed that countless village panchayats are inactive due to lack of elections, depriving citizens of their constitutional right to grassroots democracy.
Anthem row and political backlash
The situation was aggravated by the Lok Bhavan’s claim that the “National Anthem is again insulted and the Fundamental Constitutional Duty disregarded.”
Chief Minister MK Stalin vehemently condemned the Governor’s exit, labeling it a breach of “tradition and ethos,” and subsequently moved a resolution declaring the English version of the address as read.
He accused the Governor of deliberately undermining the House, asserting that such actions equate to “insulting the Assembly,” according to news agency PTI.
This confrontation has further escalated tensions between the Raj Bhavan and the DMK government, setting the stage for a politically charged Assembly session in anticipation of the Tamil Nadu elections slated for later this year.
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