Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi finds himself in the middle of another controversy. He had recently led an event with the slogan "Jai Shri Ram", which has seen strong reactions within state politics. It has been described as "provocative" and "violation of constitutional duty", particularly in a secular state, by the opposition and has questions about how right it is to indulge in such conduct.
The incident occurred at a state government function, where individuals belonging to various communities were in attendance. There, the Governor raised the slogan "Jai Shri Ram" and again after some time. Though sources close to him stated that he did it on a personal belief and didn't want to offend anyone, opposition political parties have begun criticizing the matter.
DMK ministers have argued that the Governor's utterance is against the secular nature of the state. They asked, how can a constitutional official raise a particular religious slogan, particularly on a government platform?
Political commentators argue that it is not a slogan at all; instead, it has turned into a sort of symbol in Indian politics now. In BJP politics, the slogan "Jai Shri Ram" conveys a particular message, which is typically linked with Hindu nationalism and political polarization. In a state like Tamil Nadu, where there is still a long tradition of religious coexistence, such sounds can raise political tension.
This is not the first time that RN Ravi has been at the center of controversy. Earlier also, he has hogged the headlines by speaking against some of the moves of the state government, and at times even against the Chief Minister. His role tends to complicate the state-Delhi relations.
Yet, the Raj Bhavan is still to come out with an official statement on the incident. Questions are now being raised in political circles whether the Governor is transgressing his constitutional mandate. Various opposition parties are already contemplating sending a letter to the President calling for an inquiry into the behavior of the Governor.
This scandal is another reminder that in a multilingual and multi-religious nation like India, constitutional office holders must be more sensitive and unbiased. Otherwise, their actions can create political unrest in the state, which will have an effect on the common man.
