Saffron-clad Thiruvalluvar: Tamil Nadu governor sparks fresh row – Times of India

CHENNAI: Governor of Tamil Nadu R. N. Ravi sparked controversy on Saturday when invitations to a Raj Bhavan event included a photo of Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar in saffron robes. This is the third row surrounding the governor this year.
Saturday’s controversy unfolded at a time when the state’s DMK government plans to celebrate the silver jubilee of the installation of a Thiruvalluvar statue in Kanyakumari on December 31 and January 1. Ravi is at loggerheads with the MK Stalin-led government over a host of issues. . In the latest episode, DMK’s Left allies have criticized Ravi.
Raj Bhavan on Saturday organized a seminar on Thiruvalluvar, Kabir and Yogi Vemana, with Ravi as the chief guest. The invitations had pictures of Thiruvalluvar, Kabir and Vemana, but the row focused on Thiruvalluvar’s photo in saffron robes. Images released by the state government show the saint poet in white robes.
Ravi has in the past used the photo of the saffron-clad Thiruvalluvar, with holy ash on his forehead and forearms. In January this year, the Governor had garlanded a statue of Thiruvalluvar in saffron robes on Thiruvalluvar Day. In May, the same saffron-robed statue marked Raj Bhavan’s Thiruvalluvar day celebrations.
CPM MP Su Venkatesan accused the governor of promoting “Hinduva politics”. CPI state secretary R Mutharasan alleged that Ravi used his government post to disrupt peace in Tamil Nadu.