Tamil Nadu Industries Minister TRB Raja’s son, Suryaa Raaja Baalu, on Tuesday refused to allow BJP state president K Annamalai to place a medal around his neck during the 51st State Shooting Games. Instead, he chose to accept the medal by hand, making the moment stand out at the event.
Annamalai, who had been invited as the chief guest, was garlanding the winners as part of the medal presentation. However, Suryaa declined the gesture, signalling his preference to take the award without the ceremonial garland.
The incident has drawn attention as it comes barely two weeks after a similar episode in the state.
At the 32nd convocation of Manonmaniam Sundaranar University in Tirunelveli, doctoral graduate Jean Joseph bypassed Governor RN Ravi on stage and instead chose to receive her degree from the Vice Chancellor.
Also Read : PhD grad snubs TN Guv RN Ravi at convocation ceremony
Joseph, the wife of DMK’s Nagercoil Deputy Secretary M Rajan, later described her act as a mark of protest against the Governor’s “anti-Tamil and anti-Tamil Nadu” stance.
“Since I believe in the Dravidian model and as the Vice Chancellor has done a lot for Tamil, I thought of receiving it from him,” she said.
At the time, Annamalai condemned her act as a “deplorable drama staged by DMK members to gain fame,” accusing the ruling party of “bringing low-grade politics into schools and universities.”
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