R. N. Ravi, Governor of Tamil Nadu. File.
| Photo Credit: B. Velankanni Raj
Condemning Governor R.N. Ravi for chanting “Jai Sri Ram”, and asking people to follow suit at a college event in Madurai on Saturday, the State Platform for Common School System-Tamil Nadu (SPCSS-TN) has said that Mr. Ravi violated his oath of office and should be removed from the office of the Governor of Tamil Nadu forthwith.
In a press release, SPCSS-TN president P. Ratnasabapathy and general secretary P.B. Prince Gajendra Babu said Mr. Ravi was invited as the chief guest in his capacity as the Governor. He was not invited as a preacher of a particular religion, and not asked to give a religious sermon.
“Due to his ignorance and arrogance, he continues to propagate wrong ideas that, in effect, are aimed at disturbing peace and instigating a group of people against another. In Tamil Nadu, both at schools and colleges, poetry and prose of all religions are a part of the syllabus…,” the statement said.
The release further said that literature of every religion were being taught and learnt by students purely as an academic exercise, and there was no discrimination against any text or religion. Without any basic knowledge on how students learn the religious text in a secular environment, Mr. Ravi is making misguiding statements.
“Education is a secular activity. In classrooms and official functions, students should not be given any religious instruction and no one should instruct students to chant the name of the God of a particular religion…,” it added.
Madurai Kamaraj, Manonmaniam Sundaranar, Mother Teresa, Alagappa, Tamilnadu Teachers Education and Anna University Teachers’ Association (MUTA) also condemned the Governor. Its general secretary, A.T. Senthamarai Kannan, said that the Governor’s remarks amounted to “saffronisation” of educational institutions. He further said that the Governor should resign from his post.
Published – April 13, 2025 11:59 pm IST
