Tamil Nadu Governor Meeting Shah Evokes Speculations

Chennai: Triggering a wide range of speculations, Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar had a 90-minute meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah at the latter’s residence in New Delhi on Friday and submitted a detailed report on the State’s general law and order situation.

In the long discussion, the Governor is said to have briefed the Union Home Minister on the recent public safety concerns and crime incidents in the State that have become a topic of discussion at various levels.

A message from Lok Bhavan said Arlekar called on Amit Shah ‘following his assumption of office as Governor of Tamil Nadu.’ He assumed office as full time Governor of the State on October 16 after holding additional charge of Tamil Nadu while continuing as Governor of Kerala since March 12.

The meeting of the Governor on Friday assumed importance since Arlekar had called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi only on November 6 in New Delhi. It is believed that the Home Minister had wanted details on the recent happenings in the State with reference to the law and order situation.

With the ruling party in the State, the TVK, facing a series of allegations in the maintenance of law and order in the State in various fronts, the meeting of the Governor with the Home Minister is considered to be crucial for the Union Government to make an assessment of the situation in the State.

Earlier, for three consecutive days, Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay had held discussions with the top brass of the State Police department taking stock of the law and order situation and also giving strict instructions to curb the burgeoning crimes in the State.

Ahead of that, a plethora of complaints on different types of crimes were reported in the State. On Deepavali Day alone, a spate of murders were reported from across the State, and the TVK government has been facing criticism for its alleged inaction on several complaints against an MLA and also the Deputy Speaker.

The MLA was accused of harassing a woman district collector by sending her messages and the deputy speaker faced charges of attacking a commoner who had approached him with some grievance in the constituency.

Those issues are also suspected to have figured in the Union Home Minister’s discussion with the Governor.