Chennai: Wondering as to why Governor R.N. Ravi has suddenly developed a love for freedom fighters from Tamil Nadu, State Minister for Higher Education K. Ponmudi asked him why he did not approve of the Madurai Kamaraj University’s decision to confer an honorary degree on veteran freedom fighter N. Shankariah.
Speaking to media persons on Wednesday, the Minister said that the 102-year-old freedom fighter was forced to drop out of college because he took part in the freedom struggle and if the Governor had any real concern for freedom fighters from the State, he would have allowed the degreed to be awarded to Sankariah.
Though both the Senate and Syndicate of the university had passed resolutions that were sent to the Governor for his signature on August 18, Ravi refused to sign the file, he said.
Ponmudi was referring to the speech made by the Governor at an event organized at a private civil services training academy in Trichy in honour of Marudhu brothers when he said that the State government had not given due respect to freedom fighters.
Though Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and DMK treasurer T.R. Baalu had already lambasted the governor for making the statement and giving a list of things the DMK governments had done over the years to honour freedom fighters, including the Marudu brothers, Ponmudi, too, joined the bandwagon.
