13 Reasons To Protest: Tamil Nadu Governor Ravi On Why He Did Not Read Stalin Govt’s Speech

Last Updated:January 20, 2026, 14:17 IST

Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi Vs MK Stalin-led Government: A look at the 13 reasons listed by Ravi for not reading the speech by the Stalin government

The tussle between CM MK Stalin (left) and Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi has been going on for a while. (PTI File)

Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi on Tuesday walked out of the CM MK Stalin-led state assembly before delivering his inaugural address, citing multiple issues, stating that his microphone was reportedly switched off repeatedly, preventing him from speaking.

The Governor demanded that the national anthem be played after the Tamil Anthem, and when Speaker Appavu refused, the Governor walked out without reading the opening address. This is the third time that he staged a walkout after having skipped the customary address for the past two years. In 2024 and 2025, too, the Governor did not deliver the address to the Assembly. Last year, he staged a walkout from the assembly as the national anthem was not played at the start of his address.

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Lok Bhavan, the office of the Governor of Tamil Nadu, released a detailed press release explaining why Governor RN Ravi walked out of the state assembly before delivering his inaugural address.

The 13 reasons listed by Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi for not reading the speech by the DMK government are:

1. The microphone was repeatedly switched off and he was not allowed to speak

2. The speech contains numerous unsubstantiated claims and misleading statements. Several crucial issues troubling the people were ignored.

3. The claim that the state attracted huge investments to the tune of over Rs 12 lakh crore is far from the truth. Many of the MOUs with prospective investors remain only on paper. Actual investment is hardly a fraction of it. Investment data show that Tamil Nadu is becoming less attractive for investors. Until four years ago Tamil Nadu, among the states, was the fourth largest recipient of foreign direct investment. Today, it is struggling to remain at the sixth, said Ravi.

4. Women’s safety issues were totally ignored, even though there is alarming increase of over 55% incidents of POCSO rapes and over 33% increase in incidents of molestation of women.

5. Rampant prevalence of narcotics and drugs and sharp increase in drug abuse cases among youth, including school students, is a very serious concern. Over 2,000, mostly youth, committed suicide in one year due to drug abuse. It is seriously jeopardising our future. It was casually bypassed in the speech.

6. Atrocities against Dalits and sexual violence against Dalit women is sharply increasing. However, it was, too, totally bypassed.

7. Around 20,000 people in the state died by suicide in one year — almost 65 suicides everyday. Nowhere else in the country the situation is so alarming. Tamil Nadu is being referred as the Suicide Capital of India. Yet, it does not seem to concern the government and was bypassed in the speech.

8. There is a steady decline in standards of education and widespread mismanagement in educational institutions adversely affecting the future of our youth. More than 50 % faculty positions are vacant for years and guest faculties are restive all over. Our youth are staring at uncertain future. It does not seem to bother the government and the issue was totally bypassed.

9. Several thousand Village Panchayats are defunct because elections have not been held for years. They are directly under special officers of the government. Crores of people are denied of their rights of grassroots democracy. This is against the letter and spirit of the Constitution. People are anxiously waiting for restoration of Village Panchayats. However, this did not find even a mention in the speech.

10. Several thousand temples in the state are without Board of Trustees and are directly administered by the state government. Millions and millions of devotees are deeply hurt and frustrated with the mismanagement of temples. Crucial directions of the Hon’ble Madras High Court on the restoration and preservation of ancient temples are not implemented even after 5 years. Sentiments of devotees were callously ignored in the speech.

11. MSME sectors are under huge stress due to visible and invisible costs of running the industry. They are the crucial sector for employment and growth. However, as against over 55 million registered MSMEs in the country Tamil Nadu has only about 4 million despite enormous potential for growth. Entrepreneurs from Tamil Nadu are forced to locate their enterprises in other states. The issue was completely ignored in the speech.

12. There is widespread discontentment among lower rung employees in almost all sectors. They are restive and frustrated. There was no mention of ways to address their genuine grievances.

13. Anthem was yet again insulted and the Fundamental Constitutional Duty was disregarded.

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