Forces working to undermine confidence in judiciary, ECI: Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi

CHENNAI: Slamming the efforts to impeach a sitting judge of Madras high court after his judgment in the Thiruparankundram lamp row, Tamil Nadu governor R N Ravi said in the 75 years of the country’s history, he never saw a demand for the impeachment of a judge over a verdict on such a matter. “The judiciary is being challenged not through constitutional means but by creating a sense of fear among the people, he said.

Chanting a slogan — Vetrivel Muruganukku Arogara, meaning “hail the victorious spear-wielding Lord Murugan — Governor Ravi said these forces wanted anarchy. He said the forces were working not only to weaken people’s trust in institutions like the election commission and the judiciary. Ravi was speaking at a conclave on the Indian Republic at 75 at SRM University here on Thursday.

Despite India completing 75 years as a Republic and being a robust democracy, attempts were being made to undermine people’s confidence in the judiciary, institutions like the Election Commission of India, and poems signifying unity such as Vande Mataram, Ravi said.

He said the country has made strides in multiple sectors — from diplomacy and the military to the economy, training, and upskilling — over the last 10 years, under the BJP-led Centre. “There are multiple achievements. India successfully held the G20 presidency a couple of years ago. Operation Sindoor showed that any terror attack within the country would be dealt with decisively. From around 30% living under absolute poverty in the country 10 years ago, the figure is now under 5%. India also gave Covid-19 vaccines to many countries,” he added.

He said Tamil Nadu had one of the largest beneficiary groups in the country for Mudra loans under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY), a flagship Govt of India scheme that provides collateral-free loans of up to Rs 20 lakh to non-corporate, non-farm small and micro enterprises. “I visited villages in the state and was often delighted to see women with no formal education supporting their families through the small businesses they run.”

For India to reach its peak development, the youth of the country must reach their optimum potential, Ravi said, adding that any attempt to undermine democracy would be thwarted. “We all remember V O Chidambaram Pillai’s stance against the partition of Bengal in the 1900s, or how many dailies carried blank editorials during the Emergency. Any such attempt to undermine democracy will be thwarted.”