'Didn't Mean To Disrespect Gandhi While Praising Netaji': Tamil Nadu Guv After His Speech Stokes Row

Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi said some media outlets cherry-picked from the speech and gave it a twist.

Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi

Source : PTI

New Delhi: Following a controversy over a speech by Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi, he clarified his stance saying he didn't disrespect Mahatma Gandhi while speaking on India's Independence struggle and asserted that the 'Father of the Nation' has been the guiding light of his life.

Guv Ravi alleged that some media reports in the last three-four days sought to create an "erroneous impression" that he has been disrespectful towards Mahatma Gandhi but nothing could be farther from the truth. "I hold Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation, in the highest regard and his teachings have been the ideals of my life", PTI quoted the Governor as saying.

According to PTI, Tamil Nadu Governor's clarification comes in the wake of an agitation by the TNCC members who condemned him for allegedly insulting Gandhi and belittling his role in the freedom struggle. TNCC chief K S Alagiri, Su Thirunavukkarasar, MP, and Congress Legislative Party leader K Selvaperunthagai, were among those who participated in the protest.

"I did not mean any disrespect to Mahatma Gandhi whose teachings have been the guiding light of my life", a Raj Bhavan communique said, referring to Ravi's speech at the 127th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on January 23.

As per PTI, RN Ravi said, "Some media cherry-picked from the speech and gave it a twist. In my speech, I sought to elaborate the point that Netaji’s significant contributions to our nation’s Independence has not been adequately appreciated. I tried to make a point that what accelerated the pace and process of Independence in 1947 were the revolts of the Royal Indian Navy and Air Force in February 1946 – both inspired by Netaji".

The Governor further added, due to these revolts, the British panicked as they could no longer trust the Indians in uniform for their own safety and security in India.  The British could have ruled India for some more years but for Netaji's armed revolution and its domino effect on the Indian Military and Security Forces. 

Tamil Nadu Governor claimed that what he has said are facts based on primary documents, reported PTI.