Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi, already under sharp criticism following a Supreme Court verdict that called his delay in assenting to key state legislation “illegal” and “arbitrary”, has now courted fresh controversy. The Governor is alleged to have asked students to chant “Jai Shri Ram” during a recent public function — drawing sharp reactions from academics and opposition leaders.

The incident, coming shortly after the apex court rebuked the Governor for withholding 10 Bills passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly for over three years, has intensified demands for his removal from office.

The State Platform for Common School System – Tamil Nadu (SPCSS-TN) issued a strong statement accusing Governor Ravi of violating his constitutional oath under Article 159, which obligates Governors to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution.

“Mr RN Ravi failed to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions. He should be removed from the Office of Governor of Tamil Nadu forthwith,” the statement read.

The group described the act of urging students to chant a religious slogan as an inappropriate imposition in a secular academic space, and contrary to the principles enshrined in the Constitution.

Senior Congress leader Sasikanth Senthil also took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to criticise Governor Ravi.

“After being slammed by the Supreme Court and blocked by the State Government, he’s now resorting to stunts like making students chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’ just to irritate the system,” Senthil wrote.

He further accused the Governor of attempting to send a “dangerous message” of arrogance and defiance, undermining both judicial authority and constitutional norms.

As of now, Raj Bhavan has not issued any clarification or response to the allegations, despite repeated attempts by media outlets to reach out.

This row follows a landmark Supreme Court ruling earlier in the week where the bench criticised Governor RN Ravi for withholding assent to 10 state Bills passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly — some pending for over three years. The court said the Governor had not acted in good faith and described the delay as unconstitutional.

In a significant move, the court also ruled that the Bills shall be deemed cleared from the date they were resent to the Governor for a second time, effectively overriding the delay.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla fulfilled a promise he made six years ago by participating in the wedding rituals of the daughter of a martyr from Pulwama, held in Kota, Rajasthan. He took part in the traditional ceremonies typically performed by the bride’s uncle or her mother’s brother.

Birla took on the role of the uncle for Reena’s mother, Madhubala, and performed the Hindu wedding custom known as ‘mayra’. He is the representative of the Kota-Bundi constituency in Parliament and attended the wedding of 25-year-old Reena, the daughter of Hemraj Meena, who died in the Pulwama attack, in the Sangod area of Kota.

Who was Hemraj Meena?

Hemraj Meena served as a head constable in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and was from Vinod Kalan village in Sangod, Rajasthan. He is survived by his wife, Madhubala Meena, and their daughter Reena. Hemraj lost his life in the 2019 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama.

In the wake of Hemraj’s death, Om Birla pledged to support his family. Since then, he has been actively involved in their lives, celebrating festivals and providing assistance.

At the wedding, Birla played a significant role by presenting a ceremonial ‘odhni’ and other gifts to Madhubala, while also honouring the memory of Hemraj Meena and taking part in numerous wedding rituals. State Energy Minister Heeralal Nagar accompanied him at the event.

Birla expressed his emotions about the occasion by sharing photos from the ceremony on X (formerly Twitter). He stated, “My heart is filled with pride and joy that our daughter Reena is now going to start her new life. This moment is not only emotionally significant for the family but also a source of pride, as it reflects the love, values, and aspirations that have come to fruition. The unique sacrifice and unwavering dedication of Martyr Hemraj Meena Ji to our nation continue to inspire us all.”

He concluded by wishing for Reena’s married life to be filled with love, trust, and harmony, praying that she always finds happiness, prosperity, and respect in her new journey.

In a visually distinct appearance, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) took the field in green jerseys instead of their traditional red-and-black colours during their IPL 2025 match against Rajasthan Royals at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Sunday. The reason? A sustainability campaign aimed at encouraging the plantation of more trees.

Speaking at the toss, RCB captain Rajat Patidar explained the significance of the green kit.

“This (green jersey) is to raise awareness to plant more trees,” he said, confirming that RCB would bowl first and play an unchanged XI for match 28 of the tournament.

RCB’s green jersey initiative is not new to fans of the franchise. It has been a recurring feature over multiple seasons of the IPL, often worn during one designated home or away game. The objective is to promote environmental consciousness, especially in urban centres, by delivering a simple yet powerful message — “Go Green.”

This year, the campaign gained added visibility with the team playing in Jaipur, and the vibrant green jerseys provided a sharp contrast against Rajasthan Royals’ trademark pink kit.

Rajat Patidar won the toss and opted to bowl against RR in their crucial IPL 2025 match in Jaipur. Batting first, Rajasthan Royals posted a total of 173 with the help of Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 75. Dhruv Jurel added a late flourish to the RR innings, smasing 35 off 23.