One event, two venues: Tamil Nadu Governor Ravi, DMK govt clash over Martyrs’ Day observance

Governor Ravi paid floral tributes at the Gandhi Mandapam, while Stalin, accompanied by his ministers, attended the event at the Museum complex. The Chief Minister also administered an anti-untouchability pledge at the Secretariat.

“Does it make any sense to observe Gandhi memorial events — his birthday and martyrdom day — in a corner of a city museum,” Ravi said in a statement. “My repeated requests to the Chief Minister to accord due respect to the Father of the Nation and hold such events in a befitting manner at the Gandhi Mandapam met with stubborn refusal.”

The Governor further alleged that the Dravidian movement had historically been antagonistic toward Gandhi. “During his lifetime, Gandhi was vigorously opposed and mocked by the followers of Dravidian ideology. But should he continue to be mocked even today,” he said.

Stressing the importance of Gandhi Mandapam, Governor Ravi recalled that it was built on a sprawling piece of land near Guindy National Park in 1956 under the leadership of then chief minister K Kamaraj. “Gandhi Mandapam is a grand memorial of the Father of the Nation built by Kamaraj. Why should Gandhi’s memorial events not be held there,” he asked.

Reacting to the Governor’s allegations, Information and Tamil Development Minister M P Saminathan said the chosen venue was not an obscure location, as suggested by Ravi. “A close look at the photographs of the Chief Minister’s event will show that respects were paid to Mahatma Gandhi not in a ‘corner’ of the museum but at the entrance, overlooking a main road,” he said.

“We are patriots, and we love Gandhi. We don’t celebrate his assassins. The Governor knows who killed Gandhi and why he was killed. Isn’t it a fact that Gandhi was assassinated by Hindutva terrorists,” he asked.

A senior government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the state has the prerogative to decide the venue of official events. “The Governor is not an organising authority. The government suggested Egmore Museum because of metro construction near Marina Beach, and the Governor’s insistence on Gandhi Mandapam was neither practical nor necessary,” the official said.

The dispute over Martyrs’ Day event is the latest in a series of public confrontations between the Governor and the DMK government. Earlier this month, Ravi walked out of the Tamil Nadu Assembly without reading the customary Governor’s address, triggering a fresh political storm. The DMK has frequently accused him of overstepping his constitutional role and interfering in state administration.

Despite these tensions, Stalin recently made a tongue-in-cheek remark suggesting that Ravi’s presence as Governor benefits the DMK politically. “Have we ever adopted a resolution in the Assembly seeking to replace the Governor? No, we did not bring about any such resolution. He should remain. The DMK is growing further because of him,” Stalin said at a party event last week.

“He should come to the House. We will give him the prepared speech text. He should not read it and stage a walkout. And the people should watch all of it,” Stalin said.