Protest against EVKS Elangovan for belittling Governor K Rosaiah

Condemning Elangovan’s “uncharitable remarks about the Governor,” Dr C.M.K. Reddy, president of AITF, said, “It was with deep regret we read the news item about your remark about the attitude of His Excellency the Governor of Tamil Nadu, belittling his mother-tongue. Hope you are aware that Governor of Tamil Nadu, by convention, will not be a Tamillian and has to be of non-Tamil origin.”

After taking out a rally in Chennai in May, Mr Elangovan met Mr Rosaiah and handed over a memorandum, urging him to exercise the power under the Prevention of Corruption Act and seek a report from the state.

Later, talking to reporters he claimed the Governor was silent on serious allegations and purportedly said, “I submitted complaints in English and Tamil, but he did not take action. Maybe I should submit in Telugu for the Governor to act.”

“It is very unethical and uncivilised, if not illegal, to attribute motives for the actions of the constitutional head of the state on the basis of his mother tongue. In a democracy everyone has the freedom to express his opinion but without hurting the personal sentiments of a constitutional authority or a group of people. Your impolite remarks were not only aimed at the gubernatorial office but also insulted the Telugus living in the state forming the largest linguistic minority,” Dr Reddy said in a letter to the TNCC president.

The federation demanded the Congress leader to immediately withdraw his remarks made against the Governor unconditionally, and thus avoid retaliatory action by the Telugus or general public, against him and his office. “If any untoward incidents happen, as a consequence of your statement, we hold you squarely responsible for the inevitable public reaction and none else to be blamed,” he warned.