Chennai: In a strong rebuff to Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi, a PhD scholar declined to receive her degree from him at the convocation of the Manonmaniam Sundaranar University in Tirunelveli on Wednesday.
The doctoral student, Jean Joseph, who refused to receive the Degree from the Governor, instead got it from the Vice-Chancellor, N Chandrasekar, at the 32nd convocation, held at the varsity campus at Abishekapatti near Tirunelveli.
Arriving on the stage, when she was called to receive the degree certificate, she bypassed the Governor, who signalled her to stand next to him and proceeded straight to the VC.
When the VC told her to turn to the Governor, she insisted on receiving it from him. Having completed her thesis in Business Administration, she was among the 650 students who attended the convocation.
Later, talking to the media, Jean, wife of ruling DMK functionary Rajan of Nagercoil, said “It is my choice from whom I should receive the degree, considering how the Governor functions. I avoided him since he is acting against the interests of Tamil and Tamil Nadu. This was the reason why I didn’t receive the degree from the Governor.”
Asked whether the Governor tried to talk to her, she replied in the negative and said “The VC told me to give the Degree certificate and receive it from the Governor. But, when I said no, he agreed.”
On whether the Governor was aware of her unexpected act in ignoring him, Jean said “I didn’t notice and I did not show up anything. It was my decision.”
With the DMK and the Raj Bhavan on a collision course over many issues, Tamil Nadu Higher Education Minister Govi Chezhian gave a miss to the convocation.
The state government has dragged the Governor to the Supreme Court over the inordinate delay in giving assent to Bills and got them assented by the Court, which was unprecedented in history.
Recently, Governor Ravi had forwarded to the President a Bill for establishing a University after DMK patriarch and late Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, the father of Chief Minister MK Stalin, in Kumbakonam. It has invited the wrath of the DMK government.
