In yet another backflip by the ruling DMK, the Secular Progressive Alliance, led by the DMK, has called off a massive protest against Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi in front of Raj Bhavan. Instead of protesting in front of Raj Bhavan, the Secular Progressive Alliance has announced a public meeting in Saidapet’s Theradi Thidal.
The ruling DMK and its allies announced a massive protest against Governor R N Ravi on April 12 in front of the Raj Bhavan, after he said that foreign funding fueled anti-Sterlite protests.
According to the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), Ravi’s speeches and activities have been controversial and mysterious since assuming office in 2021.
A joint statement of Secular Progressive Alliance said, “Our struggle will not cease until he stops activities that lower the Assembly’s dignity.” On April 5, Ravi had stoked fresh controversy by remarking that foreign funds had fuelled the protests against Sterlite plant in Thoothukudi and Kudankulam nuclear power plant. While addressing civil service aspirants in Raj Bhavan, Ravi said such protests were aimed at hindering progress Forgetting that he was a Governor, Ravi has been “desperate to project himself as a representative of the BJP and RSS.”
DMK and its allies further said, “To say that the Kudankulam (nuclear power plant) and Sterlite protests were driven by funds from abroad is a denigration of the Tamil Nadu people. These are people’s struggles in which lakhs (of them) took part. What is the ulterior motive behind diverting such protests as a foreign conspiracy. His opinions in support of Sanathana (Dharma) and Varnasrama method on public platforms are ridiculous.”
The alliance’s joint statement was signed by DMK treasurer T R Baalu, Dravidar Kazhagam chief K Veeramani, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K S Alagiri, MDMK general secretary Vaiko, and state secretaries of CPI(M) and CPI K Balakrishnan and R Mutharasan, respectively.
In this situation, in what is seen as a backflip by the ruling DMK and its allies, the secular progressive alliance has not only called off the protest in front of the Raj Bhavan but also converted it into a public meeting at Saidai Theradi Thidal on April 12th.
In a joint statement released by the DMK, the alliance described the assent given by the governor to the online rummy banning bill as their “first victory”. It also stated that a public meeting will be held to condemn the Governor for failing to give assent to other pending bills and for failing to express regret or clarify his remarks about the Sterlite protest or Sanathan dharma.
மதச்சார்பற்ற முற்போக்குக் கூட்டணி சார்பில் ஆளுநர் மாளிகை முன்பு நடைபெறவிருந்த ஆர்ப்பாட்டத்திற்கு பதிலாக 12-4-2023 அன்று சைதை, தேரடி திடலில் மாபெரும் கண்டன பொதுக்கூட்டம் நடைபெறும்.
– மதச்சார்பற்ற முற்போக்குக் கூட்டணிக் கட்சித் தலைவர்கள் கூட்டறிக்கை. pic.twitter.com/2lz3Xfandr
— DMK (@arivalayam) April 11, 2023
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