New Delhi/IBNS: Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi has sparked a controversy with his comment on the origin and meaning of secularism with leaders of the Congress and other parties calling it an "irresponsible" remark, especially from a person who occupies an important constitutional post.

At a public event in Tamil Nadu's Kanniyakumari, Ravi described secularism as a concept that came from distant lands in the West, which, he added, does not have a home in India.

"A lot of frauds have been committed on people of this country, and one of them is that they have tried to give a wrong interpretation of secularism. What does secularism mean? Secularism is a European concept, and it is not an Indian concept," Ravi told the gathering.

"In Europe, secularism came because there was a fight between the church and the king... How can India be away from dharma? Secularism is a European concept and let it be there only. In India, there is no need for secularism," he said.

Reacting to the Tamil Nadu Governor's comment, Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Brinda Karat said Ravi's remark was "perplexing" as it would mean "the Constitution doesn't hold much value for him."

"The Governor's statement shows that he thinks that the Constitution is also a foreign concept. Those who believe in the Constitution, those who question it are sitting in the Governor's chair..." she said.

Targetting the BJP-led Centre, Karat said it has been appointing those who do not believe in the country's supreme rulebook as Governors.

Congress MP from Tamil Nadu's Virudhunagar, Manickam Tagore, in a X post said the Governor's comment is against the Constitution.

"While the idea of secularism may be different in foreign countries, in India we respect all other religions, we respect all other traditions and we respect all other practices and this is the idea of secularism in India," said Tagore, a three-term MP.