Stalin writes to President, says Ravi unfit to be Governor

Chennai: Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has written to President Droupadi Murmu charging Governor R.N. Ravi with acting in a partisan manner by refusing permission to prosecute former AIADMK ministers facing corruption charges and hastily trying to dismiss arrested minister V. Senthil Balaji. The Governor has also proved himself to be a man with deeply rooted animosity towards Tamil Nadu, its people, culture and literature, the Chief Minister said in his letter to the President.

“I want to place all the facts which prove that Ravi is unfit to continue as Governor for your kind consideration. I leave it to you to decide if the continuation of R.N. Ravi in the Governor’s post is desirable or suitable,” the Chief Minister, who listed several charges against the Governor, said. A copy of the letter was released to the press on Sunday.

Charging the Governor with degrading Tamil literature, insulting the Constitution and trying to incite communal tension, Stalin said the Governor has disregard for elected government and the state legislature, and overreach in state affairs. He also said the Governor’s acts of delaying assent to bills, interfering with police investigations and promoting divisive ideologies are a threat to democracy.

The Governor refused to accept the Chief Minister’s recommendation that Balaji would continue as a minister without portfolio and a letter reiterating the Chief Minister’s decision was sent to him again.

Earlier on 31 May, the Governor had written a letter asking the Chief Minister to remove Balaji from the ministry.

A reply was sent to him stating that only when a person is convicted that he should be removed from the ministry and he should not be dismissed for arrest or enquiry by an agency.