The DMK and its allies – the Congress, VCK, and the CPI(M) – have announced that they will not be attending the ‘at home reception’ to be hosted by Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi at his residence on Thursday, 14 April.
The event – a tea party – has been arranged by the Governor on the occasion of Tamil New Year.
The reception – where all political parties in Tamil Nadu are invited – is an annual event held by the Governor on Independence Day and Republic Day, but this year, it has been scheduled to mark the Tamil New Year, which falls on Thursday.
The DMK has decided to boycott the event as a mark of protest against the governor not forwarding the anti-NEET Bill to the president for approval.
‘Not Proper for Us to Participate’: Minister for Industries
Minister for Industries Thangam Thennarasu told the media that the Tamil Nadu Governor must respect the people of the state.
"The Assembly functions according to democratic ethos. A unanimous resolution was adopted for the second time and it is still stuck at the Raj Bhavan. So, it would not be proper for us to participate in the feast," Thangam Thennarasu said.
The Governor and Chief Minister MK Stalin were also slated to attend the unveiling of a statue of poet Mahakavi Subramania Bharathiar later in the day.
DMK’s allies in Tamil Nadu – the Congress, the CPI(M), and the Manithaneya Makkal Katchi – will be boycotting the reception as well.
CPI(M)’s state secretary K Balakrishnan said that Governor Ravi was “acting against the state government elected by the people” and a “power centre above the government”.
Congress’s Selvaperunthakai, who is the Legislative Party leader in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, announced that the party will stay away from the reception and Papanasam MLA MH Jawahirullah has also said that he would be boycotting the tea party.
Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) leader MP Thol Thirumavalavan has also announced that the party will not be attending the event.
Other political parties, including BJP and AIADMK, are expected to attend the event scheduled for Thursday evening.
The Anti-NEET Bill
Earlier on Tuesday, 12 April, Thangam Thennarasu and Health Minister Ma Subramanian met the Governor at the Raj Bhavan over the status of the second Assembly bill seeking exemption for Tamil Nadu from the ambit of the National Entrance-cum-Eligibility Test (NEET).
Thennarasu told reporters that while the governor had to give his approval to the Bill, he informed them that it was still under his consideration.
Thangam Thennarasu also pointed out that CM Stalin also took up the demand for NEET exemption with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, but to no avail.
The Tamil Nadu Assembly had re-adopted the bill against NEET (National Eligibility Cum Entrance Exam) after it had been returned by Governor RN Ravi.
In February this year, the governor had returned the bill on the grounds that it was against the interests of students in the state, especially those from rural areas and economically poor backgrounds.
(Published in an arrangement with The News Minute.)
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