At an event conducted at the Raj Bhavan in Chennai to felicitate the organisers and volunteers of Kashi Tamil Sangamam, Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi said that the state has been witness to 'regressive politics' over the last 50 years.

“In Tamil Nadu, there has been a regressive politics that we are Dravidians, and by virtue of the Constitution, we have been brought together.

"Over the past half a century efforts were made to reinforce this narrative that we are not part of the nation integrally. That is why there is too much stress on federalism, without realising that Bharat existed several thousands of years before these states were created.  

“Here in Tamil Nadu, a different kind of narrative has been created. Everything applicable for the whole of the country, Tamil Nadu will say no. It has become a habit. So many theses have been written—all false and poor fiction. This must be broken. Truth must prevail.

“In fact, Tamil Nadu is the land which holds the soul of Bharat. It is the identity of Bharat. In fact, Thamizhagam would be the more appropriate word to call it. The rest of the country suffered a lot of devastation at the hands of foreigners for a very long time.

"But somehow, Tamil has been preserved for several years in Tamil Nadu. So, this is the hope to rejuvenate Bharat. All the narratives based on falsehood should be broken and Kashi Tamil Sangamam is a very powerful beginning for it.”

Reacting to Ravi's speech, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader TR Baalu said, “The governor has stated that people have been misled by the Dravidian rule and it has been published in newspapers. He has been making statements that should be made in Kamalalayam (Bharatiya Janata Party state headquarters)."

The DMK has been at loggerheads with Ravi on a variety of issues like his comments on the Thirukkural and Sanatana Dharma.

In November 2022, it had taken a delegation and submitted a memorandum to the President asking her to remove Ravi from the position of Governor for his 'anti-constitutional remarks.'

Also Read: Tamil Nadu: DMK Wants To Remove Governor RN Ravi For 'Anti-Constitution' Remarks