‘Tamizhaga Aalunar’ on Pongal invite kicks up row

CHENNAI: An invitation extended by Raj Bhavan for the Pongal festival on January 12 has escalated the latest row over governor R N Ravi expressing his preference for the state being called ‘Thamizhagam’ (Tamil Homeland) rather than Tamil Nadu.
The invites have been sent to about 1,000 people, including state MPs and MLAs and prominent personalities.
The invite printed in Tamil and English triggered a debate in social media over the use of ‘Thamizhaga’ (Thamizhaga Alunar – Tamil Nadu governor), besides the use of the national emblem instead of the official emblem of the Tamil Nadu government featuring a temple gopuram.
Taking to Twitter, CPM MP Su Venkatesan said the governor chose not to use the state emblem thrice in invitations. He posted the photographs of the invite sent to him for participating in the Pongal celebrations on Twitter. Raj Bhavan sources said even Ravi’s predecessor Banwarilal Purohit had extended invitations as ‘Thamizhaga Aalunar’ on a few occasions.
Venkatesan also posted the invite he received for the “At Home” event hosted by governor Ravi on the occasion of the Tamil New Year in April. The invite featured the state government emblem and addressed Ravi as the ‘Tamil Nadu Aalunar’. It also mentioned the Tamil year and month as per convention of the state government.
Meanwhile, sources said the governor is scheduled to leave for Delhi after Pongal to brief ‘higher ups’ about the events leading to his walk out from the assembly on Monday.
Following his report to the Union home ministry, he has been asked to come over to New Delhi for personal briefing, sources said.
The governor is said to have raised objections to the government about certain portions of the draft and omitted them during his customary address.
A detailed press statement from the Raj Bhavan on the row over his customary address is expected in a day or two.