Chennai: A fresh political row has erupted in Tamil Nadu following Governor R.N. Ravi’s remarks on the observance of Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial day. Accusing the state government of disrespecting the Father of the Nation, Ravi questioned the rationale behind conducting Gandhi’s memorial events at the Egmore Museum instead of the grand Gandhi Mandapam in Guindy. The Tamil Nadu government, led by the ruling DMK, has strongly countered the Governor’s claims, calling them misleading and politically motivated.
In a statement on X, Ravi said, “Gandhi Mandapam is a grand memorial built in 1956 by K. Kamaraj over a sprawling land adjacent to Guindy National Park. Does it make any sense to do Gandhi memorial events in a corner of a city museum? My repeated requests to the Chief Minister to accord due respect to the Father of the Nation have been stubbornly refused. During his lifetime, Gandhi Ji was vigorously opposed and mocked by followers of Dravidian ideology. But should he continue to be mocked even today?”
"Gandhi Mandapam is a grand memorial of the Father of the Nation built over a sprawling land adjacent to the Guindy National Park, Chennai by K. Kamaraj in 1956. Does it make any sense to do Gandhi memorial events - his birthday and martyrdom day in a corner of a city museum? My…
— RAJ BHAVAN, TAMIL NADU (@rajbhavan_tn) January 30, 2025
Paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi on his Punyatithi. A beacon of peace, selflessness and non-violence whose life and timeless ideals guide our collective vision of inclusive, compassionate and self-reliant Bharat by 2047 for a harmonious, equitable and prosperous world.
— RAJ BHAVAN, TAMIL NADU (@rajbhavan_tn) January 30, 2025
(Governor… pic.twitter.com/FZudFblTc0
Reacting strongly to these comments, Tamil Nadu Information Minister M.P. Saminathan condemned the Governor’s remarks, accusing him of distorting facts and politicising the issue. “The Governor’s claim that the event was held in a corner of the museum is completely misleading. Traditionally, Gandhi Jayanti and other martyr remembrance events were observed at the Marina Beach Gandhi statue. However, due to metro rail construction, a new Gandhi statue was installed inside the Egmore Museum campus in 2022. Since then, all official tributes, including those by the Chief Minister and the Governor himself, have taken place there,” Saminathan stated.
The minister also pointed out that Ravi had previously attended these events at Egmore without raising objections. He dismissed Ravi’s allegations of continued disrespect towards Gandhi, arguing that the Dravidian movement had always stood against those responsible for Gandhi’s assassination. “We all know who killed Gandhi and why. Those same forces, who opposed him during his lifetime, are now pretending to honor his legacy while attempting to erase history,” he said.
The confrontation between the Governor and the DMK government is the latest in a series of political and ideological clashes in Tamil Nadu. The ruling party has frequently accused Governor Ravi of acting as an agent of the BJP-led central government, while the Governor has often criticised the state’s policies and historical narratives.