The Tamil Nadu assembly is scheduled to meet next week, a year after governor R N Ravi walked out of the house before the national anthem was played to protest a resolution passed by chief minister M K Stalin. In an interview with Julie Mariappan, TN assembly speaker M Appavu says governors of non-BJP governed states use RSS ideology to do politics and hide Union government’s wrongs.Excerpts:
How would you assess the 10-year performance of the NDA govt?
In the interim budget, Union government stated that 25 crore people had been lifted out of poverty in the last decade. What is the source of this data? The results of Consumer Expenditure Surveys of recent years are not out. India ranks 111 of 125 countries in the Global Hunger Index, which means we are still in extreme poverty. The banks have written off ₹14.56 lakh crore loans since 2014. It looks like the rich benefited not the poor farmers and students. Instead, the banks collected ₹35,000cr from customers for nonmaintenance of minimum balance, additional ATM transactions and SMS alerts. Centre supports corporates by slashing interest rates and divesting ownership of public sector undertakings. The outstanding debt increased by ₹100 lakh crore during the NDA regime.
On the other hand, Tamil Nadu government works for the common man, extending welfare schemes for all sections.
The CM accused Centre of running parallel governments through governors.
It’s not an accusation. It’s the truth. Even the Supreme Court pointed to the Constitutional powers of the governor that he should act on the aid and advice of the council of ministers. In 2021 as well as at the All India Presiding Officers’ conference in Mumbai recently, I reiter ated that a time limit must be fixed for governors’ assent to bills. Those passed by Parliament get assent in a day, but governors of non-BJP-ruled states keep bills pending for months, even years. All governors use RSS ideology to keep Union government’s troubles out of sight. It is a diversionary tactic.
How come V Senthil Balaji remains a minister though he is in judicial custody?
The inclusion and exclusion of members of the cabinet is the CM’s prerogative. Is it fair for the governor to arbitrarily release a press statement saying the minister has been dismissed with immediate effect? State government acts as per the Constitution.
Is the growing conflict between non BJP state governments and governors a cause for worry?
Governors of non-BJP-ruled states compete as to who is bigger among them. Jagdeep Dhankhar became Vice President of India after he got engaged in a big conflict with the West Bengal chief minister in his previous posting in the state. TN, Kerala, Telangana, and Puducherry governors are in a fierce race for the spotlight.
What is your view on changes to the policy address prepared by the government?
Our CM is a civilised person. State and Centre have differences in terms of principles. But whenever the Prime Minister or Union ministers visit TN, state government extends courtesies. The same applies to the governor. There is nothing personal. Additions and deletions in policy addresses are inappropriate actions by governors.
Why is it difficult to acknowledge AIADMK’s elected office-bearers and provide a seat to the deputy leader of the opposition in the front, similar to the arrangement for the Congress?
I have acknowledged R B Udayakumar as the deputy leader of the opposition. Only the Speaker has the authority to decide where a member should sit in the assembly. The AIADMK MLAs were elected based on the signatures of O Panneerselvam as coordinator and Edappadi K Palaniswami as joint coordinator and were given seats in the front row based on that. I don’t wish to disqualify a member. The previous assembly did not disqualify O Panneerselvam and 10 others for voting against the EPS government. Let me remind you the AIADMK regime gave M Karunanidhi a seat in the second row even though he was in a wheelchair and rejected requests to move him to the first row for easy access.
Do you agree with governor Ravi that those trying to eradicate sanatana dharma want to divide the country?
How can we agree? The upper castes of 6%-10% follow the principle of sanatana dharma. They enjoyed the privilege of education, but the Dravidian model ensures education for all, promotes equality and opposes caste and religious fanaticism. It won’t divide the country.
It has been three years since the DMK made live streaming of assembly proceedings a poll promise. Why the delay?
Live streaming has begun and will cover the debates in a phased manner. Efforts have been taken to upload online proceedings since 1921. It will be done in two months. When late DMDK leader Vijayakant filed a petition in the high court seeking live telecast, the then AIADMK regime told the court it was not possible.
You have been charged with acting as a DMK spokesman in the assembly.
I don’t allow speeches that are against the truth. Members of the treasury and opposition are given equal time. The CM never interfered with my functions.
You recently said mediators of enforcement agencies intimidated you for three months. Why didn’t you complain?
They did it via well-wishers, saying that my interviews were translated and sent to the PMO. I was asked to leave town and change my mobile number, but I refused to be intimidated.
Email your feedback with name and address to southpole.toi@timesgroup.com
How would you assess the 10-year performance of the NDA govt?
In the interim budget, Union government stated that 25 crore people had been lifted out of poverty in the last decade. What is the source of this data? The results of Consumer Expenditure Surveys of recent years are not out. India ranks 111 of 125 countries in the Global Hunger Index, which means we are still in extreme poverty. The banks have written off ₹14.56 lakh crore loans since 2014. It looks like the rich benefited not the poor farmers and students. Instead, the banks collected ₹35,000cr from customers for nonmaintenance of minimum balance, additional ATM transactions and SMS alerts. Centre supports corporates by slashing interest rates and divesting ownership of public sector undertakings. The outstanding debt increased by ₹100 lakh crore during the NDA regime.
On the other hand, Tamil Nadu government works for the common man, extending welfare schemes for all sections.
The CM accused Centre of running parallel governments through governors.
It’s not an accusation. It’s the truth. Even the Supreme Court pointed to the Constitutional powers of the governor that he should act on the aid and advice of the council of ministers. In 2021 as well as at the All India Presiding Officers’ conference in Mumbai recently, I reiter ated that a time limit must be fixed for governors’ assent to bills. Those passed by Parliament get assent in a day, but governors of non-BJP-ruled states keep bills pending for months, even years. All governors use RSS ideology to keep Union government’s troubles out of sight. It is a diversionary tactic.
How come V Senthil Balaji remains a minister though he is in judicial custody?
The inclusion and exclusion of members of the cabinet is the CM’s prerogative. Is it fair for the governor to arbitrarily release a press statement saying the minister has been dismissed with immediate effect? State government acts as per the Constitution.
Is the growing conflict between non BJP state governments and governors a cause for worry?
Governors of non-BJP-ruled states compete as to who is bigger among them. Jagdeep Dhankhar became Vice President of India after he got engaged in a big conflict with the West Bengal chief minister in his previous posting in the state. TN, Kerala, Telangana, and Puducherry governors are in a fierce race for the spotlight.
What is your view on changes to the policy address prepared by the government?
Our CM is a civilised person. State and Centre have differences in terms of principles. But whenever the Prime Minister or Union ministers visit TN, state government extends courtesies. The same applies to the governor. There is nothing personal. Additions and deletions in policy addresses are inappropriate actions by governors.
Why is it difficult to acknowledge AIADMK’s elected office-bearers and provide a seat to the deputy leader of the opposition in the front, similar to the arrangement for the Congress?
I have acknowledged R B Udayakumar as the deputy leader of the opposition. Only the Speaker has the authority to decide where a member should sit in the assembly. The AIADMK MLAs were elected based on the signatures of O Panneerselvam as coordinator and Edappadi K Palaniswami as joint coordinator and were given seats in the front row based on that. I don’t wish to disqualify a member. The previous assembly did not disqualify O Panneerselvam and 10 others for voting against the EPS government. Let me remind you the AIADMK regime gave M Karunanidhi a seat in the second row even though he was in a wheelchair and rejected requests to move him to the first row for easy access.
Do you agree with governor Ravi that those trying to eradicate sanatana dharma want to divide the country?
How can we agree? The upper castes of 6%-10% follow the principle of sanatana dharma. They enjoyed the privilege of education, but the Dravidian model ensures education for all, promotes equality and opposes caste and religious fanaticism. It won’t divide the country.
It has been three years since the DMK made live streaming of assembly proceedings a poll promise. Why the delay?
Live streaming has begun and will cover the debates in a phased manner. Efforts have been taken to upload online proceedings since 1921. It will be done in two months. When late DMDK leader Vijayakant filed a petition in the high court seeking live telecast, the then AIADMK regime told the court it was not possible.
You have been charged with acting as a DMK spokesman in the assembly.
I don’t allow speeches that are against the truth. Members of the treasury and opposition are given equal time. The CM never interfered with my functions.
You recently said mediators of enforcement agencies intimidated you for three months. Why didn’t you complain?
They did it via well-wishers, saying that my interviews were translated and sent to the PMO. I was asked to leave town and change my mobile number, but I refused to be intimidated.
Email your feedback with name and address to southpole.toi@timesgroup.com