Tamil Nadu's governor debunked allegations that he wants to change the state's name on Wednesday. His reported proposal had triggered a power tussle with the Tamil Nadu government.
"An interpretation or inference that it was a suggestion to change the name of Tamil Nadu is erroneous and far-fetched," Governor R.N. Ravi said in a statement released by the Governor's House in Chennai.
Tamil Nadu or 'Tamizhagam'?
R.N. Ravi's usage of "Tamizhagam" at a public event in the state earlier this month sparked a row with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the party that currently rules Tamil Nadu, slamming him for his choice of words.
Ruling party legislators even raised "Quit Tamil Nadu" slogans against him when Ravi addressed a cross-party meeting at the state assembly. A hashtag #GetOutRavi also trended on Twitter at the time.
Interestingly, Tamizhagam means the "home of the Tamil people", while Tamil Nadu denotes "the nation of Tamils". Additionally, the phrase "Nadu" in Tamil means "land", which in totality makes Tamil Nadu the "land of Tamils".
Critics highlight this as the main cause behind the alleged narrative of those who believe that Tamil Nadu isn't an integral part of the country.
The row is just the latest in a cold relationship between Governor Ravi and the Tamil Nadu government.
Previously, the state government passed bills to take away the power of the governor in appointing the heads (vice-chancellors) of state-run universities.