TN Guv Ravi in fresh trouble, his 'Jai Shri Ram' chant in college stokes controversy
Chennai, Apr 13 (PTI): Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi's reported remarks asking students of a college to chant "Jai Shri Ram" have trigered a controversy with SPCSS-TN, a body of educationists, alleging he violated his oath of office and secular principles and urged President Droupadi Murmu to remove him from his post.
The State Platform for Common School System-Tamil Nadu (SPCSS-TN), said Ravi failed to abide by the Constitution, respect its ideals and institutions.
"Ravi should be removed from the office of Governor of Tamil Nadu forthwith for deliberately violating Article 159 (oath by governor) of the Constitution of India," SPCSS-TN General Secretary, PB Prince Gajendra Babu, said in a statement.
Ravi was invited by a government-aided college in Madurai as chief guest to distribute prizes to the winners in a literary contest.
Delivering his address on April 12, he had asked the students to chant the name of a God of particular religion (Jai Shri Ram) thrice.
According to the Constitution, India is a secular country, education is a secular activity and it shall be the fundamental duty of every citizen to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the national flag and the national anthem and also to develop scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform.
However, Ravi failed to preserve, defend and protect the Constitution by chanting the name of the God of a particular religion and asking the students to repeat the same thrice, Gajendra Babu alleged.
Instead of obeying the Governor, had the students protested against him for violating his oath, unnecessary embarrassment would have been caused to the management and staff of the college.The students in order to "protect the name of the college," passively submitted themselves to the will of the Governor.
Gajendra Babu alleged: "Ravi is illiterate as far as his knowledge of the curriculum and syllabus followed in schools and colleges in Tamil Nadu. Due to his ignorance and arrogance, he continues to propagate wrong ideas that in effect aim to disturb peace and instigate a group of people against another."
The SPCSS-TN said it hence appeals to President Murmu to remove Ravi from the office of Governor of Tamil Nadu.
Congress MP (Tiruvallur) Sasikanth Senthil said in a post on 'X': "After being slammed by the Supreme Court and blocked by the State Government, he's now resorting to stunts like making students chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’ just to irritate the system. Clearly frustrated, he’s sending a message that “Even if the courts rule against me, I will find other ways to push my agenda." It’s a dangerous mix of arrogance and defiance that undermines democratic institutions and the principles of the Constitution!
On April 8, 2025, the Supreme Court's bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan said the 10 Bills withheld by Governor Ravi were deemed to have been given assent.
The court came down heavily on Governor Ravi and said him reserving 10 Bills for the consideration of the President was against constitutional provisions.
It was considered a major victory for the DMK government and a legal setback for Governor Ravi.
On April 12, Tamil Nadu government duly notified the 10 Acts in the state gazette.
SPCSS-TN is a body of educationists and educational activists following socialist principles.
Controversy does not seem to leave Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi. At a recent event at Thiagarajar Engineering College in Madurai, where he was invited as the chief guest, he allegedly asked students to chant 'Jai Shri Ram', while distributing prizes to the winners in a literary… pic.twitter.com/yvDIM5WylN
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Another incident of alleged insult to Islamic prayer reported in Belthangady
case lodged against 47 individuals
Belthangady: Another incident involving individuals allegedly dancing indecently, dressed in a denigrating manner, and insulting the Azan (Islamic call to prayer) has come to light under the jurisdiction of the Venoor Police Station. A case has been lodged against 17 accused persons and 20 to 30 others who were allegedly involved in the act.
Based on a complaint filed by Mohammed Rafiq, a resident of Poyyegudde house in Padangady village, a case has been registered at Venoor police station against Savya residents Vasantha, Rajesh, Harish, Peradi residents Dayanand, Ranganath, Mohan, Shamit, Ravi, Ramesh Kulal, Suresh, Ashoka Kulal, Dhanush Haradottu, Harish Banthottu, Ramesh R.K, Suresh Barottu, Pramod, Prakash Peradi and 20 to 30 other individuals.
A case has been registered under Section 353(2) along with Section 3(5) Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 for disrespecting Islam, Prophet Muhammad and the Islamic prayer Azhan by wearing Muslim attire during a 'Purusha Kattuna' event on April 14th.
A video of the incident is reportedly circulating on various social media platforms. In the purported video, a group of individuals can be seen wearing traditional Muslim attire and allegedly insulting the Azan by dancing indecently during a 'Purusha Kattuna' (a ritualistic dance performed by men of different castes, typically marking the end of agricultural activities) event held in Peradi near Venoor.
This incident follows a similar episode reported just days ago during a Purushara Puja ceremony, where Islam was allegedly disrespected. A complaint had already been filed with the Venoor police regarding that incident.
Leaders from the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) had also approached the Venoor police and submitted an official complaint, and demanded immediate action against those who are responsible for creating unrest in the society by wearing Muslim attire and hurting religious sentiments.
The Venoor police have now registered a case following widespread outrage over the alleged video denigrating Islam.
