Chennai, July 4:
Vanni Arasu, Social Justice Minister and senior leader of the VCK, has accused Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar of overstepping constitutional limits by convening a review meeting with officials in Madurai.
In a statement, Arasu criticised the Governor’s interaction with key district authorities, including the Collector and police officials, calling it an intrusion into the functioning of the elected State government led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay. He argued that while Governors may offer advice, directly conducting review meetings undermines democratic norms and the authority of the State administration.
The controversy follows remarks made by Arlekar in Madurai, where he stressed that restoring the Vaigai River was an act of patriotism and indicated that Raj Bhavan might intervene if necessary. Arasu responded by asserting that the responsibility for protecting rivers such as the Cauvery River, Vaigai, and Thamiraparani River rests solely with the State government.
He further alleged that, similar to former Governor R. N. Ravi, Arlekar’s remarks were not aligned with Tamil Nadu’s interests. Referring to the Governor’s recent meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Arasu questioned whether key issues concerning the State were discussed.
The VCK leader also took aim at the Centre’s Namami Gange Programme, claiming that despite massive expenditure over the years, the condition of the Ganga has not improved significantly.
Arasu concluded by warning that the people of Tamil Nadu would not accept any interference by the Governor in the State’s governance, intensifying the ongoing political friction between the State leadership and Raj Bhavan