A day after Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi came up with a clarification on his 'Tamizhagam' remarks that sparked controversy and public outcry across the state, the ruling DMK has on Thursday - January 19 rejected the Governor's clarification amid tumultuous ties. 

By rejecting the Governor's clarification, the DMK has said that the Governor's intention was to project it as a divisive party. Throwing a sharp rejection, DMK's spokesperson TKS Elangovan said, "I don't know if his (Governor) intention was to suggest a name change or not, but his intention was to project DMK as a divisive party." Elangovan alleged that the Governor wanted to display the DMK as a force fighting for a separate country.

"This is not true. We have not demanded a separate nation but sought more powers to the state for administrative reasons", Elangovan added. He further said, "We are always with India and like the country. In every difficulty, we stood with India. Even during the Indo-Pak war, the DMK raised huge sum as aid for the Indian army to express our solidarity with the nation."

Responding about the Governor's clarification, Elangovan said, "He (Governor) was instructed to do something against the DMK but it misfired and so he withdrew it." DMK's organising secretary R S Bharathi has rejected the Governor's clarification and stated that the Governor has no right to comment about Tamil Nadu, its culture, or language. 

On Wednesday, a fortnight after claiming that it's more appropriate to call Tamil Nadu as 'Tamizhagam', Governor RN Ravi had issued a clarification after his remarks fueled protests against him. Governor Ravi remained tight-lipped amidst the growing protests and when the outrage was heightening, he has now given a clarification in which he has said that the arguments that were made without understanding the basis of his speech. 

In a press release issued by Raj Bhavan on Wednesday - January 18, the Governor said, "In an event at Raj Bhavan on January 4, 2023, to felicitate the volunteers of Kashi - Tamil Sangamam, a recently concluded month long festival celebrating the age old cultural connect of Tamil people with Kashi, while dwelling upon the historical cultural connect between the two, I referred to the word 'Tamizhagam". 

"In those days, there was no 'Tamil Nadu'. Hence in historical cultural context, I referred to the word 'Tamizhagam' as a 'more appropriate expression'. An interpretation or inference that it was a suggestion to change the name of the Tamil Nadu is erroneous and far-fetched", the Governor added. RN Ravi further said, "Without understanding the basis of my speech, arguments that that Governor is against the word 'Tamil Nadu' have become a topic of discussion. Hence, I am giving this clarification to put an end to it." 

In his speech on January 4, Governor RN Ravi said, "Unfortunately, in Tamil Nadu, there has been regressive politics, that we are Dravidian and we have nothing to do with this (Bharat)." By citing that Tamil Nadu is the soul, an idea, and an identity of the nation, Governor Ravi went on to say that it is correct to say 'Tamizhagam' instead of 'Tamil Nadu', as Nadu represents an autonomous region while the state is a part of India. Ravi claimed that for over 50 years, efforts have been made to reinforce the narrative that Tamil Nadu is not an integral part of India. 

Press Release. @PIB_India @ANI @PTI_News pic.twitter.com/QZofsjEMtv

— RAJ BHAVAN, TAMIL NADU (@rajbhavan_tn) January 18, 2023