Chennai, Jan 20 (NationPress) Shortly after Governor R. N. Ravi exited the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly without giving the traditional Governor’s Address on Tuesday, Lok Bhavan released a thorough clarification, stating that the Governor was not given the chance to express his views.

This clarification emerges amid rising tensions between the Governor and the DMK government, resulting in a significant clash during the assembly's opening session.

Per the statement from Lok Bhavan, the Governor chose not to present the address after facing repeated interruptions as his microphone was “switched off,” hindering him from voicing his opinions to the assembly.

Characterizing the incident as extraordinary, Lok Bhavan noted that the Governor, who serves as the constitutional leader of the state, had to withdraw after being denied his right to speak. The statement indicated that the Governor intended to highlight major omissions and inaccuracies in the prepared speech but was obstructed from doing so.

Lok Bhavan claimed that the address included several unfounded and misleading assertions while neglecting critical public issues. It specifically challenged the government’s claim that Tamil Nadu had secured investments exceeding ₹12 lakh crore.

The statement pointed out that many of the memoranda of understanding mentioned remained unfulfilled, with actual investments being a mere fraction of what was claimed. It also referenced available statistics suggesting that Tamil Nadu's position as a top recipient of foreign direct investment has deteriorated in recent years.

Moreover, the statement emphasized the complete exclusion of concerns regarding women’s safety, especially considering the alarming rise in POCSO cases and incidents of sexual violence. Lok Bhavan brought attention to the increasing threat of drug use among youth, including school children, noting that over 2,000 suicides annually were linked to drug dependency.

Other significant issues mentioned in the address that were overlooked included escalating atrocities against Dalits, a high suicide rate in the state, persistent vacancies and mismanagement in educational institutions, and the failure to conduct village panchayat elections for several years, which deprived citizens of their fundamental right to grassroots democracy.

Lok Bhavan also expressed concerns regarding the extended governmental control over numerous temples lacking duly established trustee boards, escalating pressures in the MSME sector, dissatisfaction among lower-level government employees, and what it described as a consistent neglect of constitutional responsibilities, including respect for the National Anthem.

The statement asserted that these issues reflected the real circumstances on the ground and should not have been disregarded in a vital address intended to outline the state government's priorities.