Touching a new low in the relationship between the DMK Government and the Raj Bhavan, Governor RN Ravi boycotted the Assembly, leaving the House in a huff in protest against the national anthem not being sung at the commencement of the session on Monday morning.

In the Tamil Nadu Assembly, it is customary to sing the Thamil Thai Vazhthu (invocation to Mother Tamil) at the beginning of the session and the National Anthem at the conclusion. On his arrival at the House, Ravi asked that the national anthem be sung at the beginning itself. But, Speaker M Apppavu commenced the session with the singing of the invocation to Tamil.

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A visibly upset Governor left the House in a huff within three minutes of his arrival. Earlier, he was given a ceremonial guard of honour and the Speaker received him with a bouquet. It is customary for the Assembly to commence the first session of the year with the Governor’s address, prepared by the Government.

This is the second time that Ravi had boycotted the Assembly in the first session of the year. Last year, he skipped certain paragraphs, which eulogized Dr BR Ambedkar and Dravidian icons Periyar, CN Annadurai and late DMK Patriarch M Karunanidhi. He also spoke extempore, which drew instant condemnation from Chief Minister MK Stalin.

Explaining the reason for the Governor’s boycott, the Raj Bhavan in a hard hitting ‘X’ post said, “The Constitution of Bharat and the National Anthem were once again insulted in the Tamil Nadu Assembly today. Respecting the National anthem is among the first Fundamental Duty as enshrined in our Constitution. It is sung in all the state legislatures at the beginning and the end of the Governor’s address.”

“Today on the arrival of the Governor to the House, only Tamil Thai Vazhthu was sung. Governor respectfully reminded the House of its Constitutional Duty and fervently appealed to the Hon’ble Chief Minister who is Leader of the House and the Hon’ble Speaker for singing the National Anthem. However, they cussedly refused. It is a matter of grave concern. Not to be a party to such brazen disrespect to the Constitution and the National Anthem, Governor in deep anguish left the House,” said the post, justifying the boycott.