TN: Udhayanidhi Stalin slams Guv’s Madurai inspection

Chennai, July 2 (IANS) DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin on Thursday strongly criticised Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Arlekar for inspecting during his visit to Madurai, alleging that the exercise was unconstitutional and infringed upon the powers of the elected state government.

In a statement, Udhayanidhi Stalin said the Governor had acted like an elected public representative despite holding a nominated constitutional office and serving as the Governor of Tamil Nadu only as an additional charge. He also targeted the ruling TVK government, accusing it of allowing the Governor to overstep constitutional limits.

Drawing parallels with the previous AIADMK regime, Udhayanidhi Stalin said the Governor’s inspection marked a return to what he described as the “Koovathur-era” practice of Governors conducting field inspections. He alleged that the present government, which he described as being sustained through “horse-trading politics,” had permitted a precedent that undermined Tamil Nadu’s rights.

He objected to the Governor’s reported remarks that Raj Bhavan would intervene if the state government failed to restore the Vaigai river. Pointing out that the maintenance of Raj Bhavan itself is the responsibility of the Tamil Nadu government, Udhayanidhi Stalin said the Governor’s comments reflected an unwarranted assertion of authority. He alleged that such statements were possible only because the ruling party had failed to safeguard the state government’s constitutional powers.

The DMK leader recalled that his party had earlier questioned the government in the Assembly over what it described as a compromise on the importance accorded to the Tamil Thai Vazhthu at official functions attended by the Governor. He said the government had failed to provide a satisfactory explanation and argued that the latest developments clearly showed it was compromising on the state’s rights.

Udhayanidhi Stalin further alleged that while the ruling party was attempting to engineer defections from opposition parties, it was simultaneously allowing the Governor’s inspection out of anxiety that he might otherwise initiate action against the government.

Recalling the DMK’s protests during the previous AIADMK regime, Udhayanidhi Stalin said party cadres had staged black-flag demonstrations wherever the then Governor conducted similar inspections. He added that no such inspections had been permitted during the tenure of the previous DMK government led by M.K. Stalin.

Urging immediate action, Udhayanidhi Stalin called upon the state government to put an end to the practice of Governors conducting field inspections. He said the government should protect Tamil Nadu’s constitutional and federal rights instead of allowing them to be compromised.

–IANS

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