CM forced V-Cs to skip meeting: Ravi

Minister says Governor intentionally 'played politics' despite SC's favourable ruling on 10 bills

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @Nilgiris/Chennai

GOVERNOR R N Ravi on Friday alleged that Chief Minister M K Stalin used police to deter Vice-Chancellors of state universities from participating in the pre-scheduled conference convened by him at the Ooty Raj Bhavan and claimed that the action was reminiscent of the Emergency days. When telephonic threats from Higher Education Minister (Govi Chezhiaan) to the V-Cs not to take part in the conference did not work, the CM used police, Ravi alleged, evoking sharp rebuke from Chezhiaan.

The minister said the governor intentionally "played politics" despite the Supreme Court ruling in favour of the state government on the 10 bills re-adopted by the Tamil Nadu Assembly. "If the governor organised the conference without respecting the law, is it necessary for the V-Cs to do the same," he asked.