National anthem not played at beginning of Assembly session, Tamil Nadu Governor walks out, deepening divide with Stalin govt

The clash over the national anthem is the latest in a series of disputes over ceremonial and constitutional practices. According to Assembly protocol, the Tamil Thai Vaazhthu is performed at the opening of proceedings, while the national anthem is sung at the end of the day’s session. The Raj Bhavan’s insistence on changing this protocol is seen as an overreach by the DMK government.

The drama unfolded when the Assembly convened for its first session of the year. As per tradition, the session began with the recital of the Tamil Thai Vaazhthu, the state’s official song. However, the absence of the national anthem triggered objections from the Governor, who reportedly appealed to Chief Minister M K Stalin and Speaker M Appavu to ensure its inclusion. His request was declined, prompting Ravi to leave the Assembly less than five minutes after the session began.

In a statement released on social media shortly thereafter, the Raj Bhavan accused the state government of “brazen disrespect” to the Constitution and the national anthem.

“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 duties as enshrined in our Constitution. It is sung in all the state legislatures at the beginning and the end of Governor’s address. Today, on arrival of Governor to the House, only Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu was sung. Governor respectfully reminded the House of its Constitutional Duty and fervently appealed to the Hon’ble Chief Minister who is the 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, the Governor in deep anguish left the House,” the statement read.

Speaker Appavu continued the session by reading the Governor’s customary address, prepared by the state government, in Tamil. The address, a highlight of the opening session, traditionally outlines the government’s agenda for the year. However, the Governor’s absence overshadowed the proceedings, triggering protests and walkouts by legislators across party lines.

While the AIADMK legislators, the main opposition party, entered the Well of the House, chanting slogans and holding placards demanding justice in the high-profile sexual assault case at Anna University, the Speaker ordered their eviction.

Adding to the chaos, MLAs from the Congress, BJP, and PMK staged separate walkouts. While Congress MLAs, wearing black badges, condemned the Governor’s perceived interference in state affairs, the BJP and PMK MLAs protested what they described as inaction in the Anna University case and the suppression of opposition voices in the Assembly.

Outside the Assembly, AIADMK MLAs staged a demonstration, waving posters with the slogan “Who is the sir?” — a pointed reference to the ongoing Anna University scandal, in which allegations were raised that the accused had spoken to a “sir” over the phone during the assault, in the presence of the victim.

While the opposition parties accused the investigators of hiding the role of a “sir” in the case, the police claimed that the phone of the accused, who is a habitual offender with over 20 criminal cases in his name, had put the phone in ‘flight mode’ during the crime and that the alleged call was an act of intimidation by the accused, claiming to know top officials of Anna University.