Posted on 11/09/2003 8:40:01 AM PST by Agnostic
Chennai, Nov. 9. (UNI): Editor-in-Chief of The Hindu, N Ram, today said Union Minister of State for Home, I D Swamy, had said that the Centre would take up with the Tamil Nadu Government, the sentencing of four of its senior journalists and the publisher by the State Assembly in a breach of privilege case. (Another Central Minister has also said he would request the Assembly Speaker to withdraw the order.)
Addressing journalists, who are observing a fast at the Press Club here in protest against the Tamil Nadu Assembly sentencing six journalists to 15 days simple imprisonment, he said ever since the sentence was announced two days ago, he had been receiving calls from leaders of all political parties, barring the ruling AIADMK.
Ram, who quoted a media report on Swamy's statement that the matter would be taken up with the Tamil Nadu Government, said the political leaders who had called him included Union Information Minister, Ravishankar Prasad, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, and former Union Minister Ramvilas Paswan.
He said The Hindu has sent a detailed report to the Union Home Ministry about the police intimidation and the subsequent events.
The daily has already moved the Supreme Court on the issue and as the matter was sensitive, he could not disclose the details, Ram said.
Meanwhile, PTI reported from New Delhi that The Supreme Court will hear tomorrow the petition by The Hindu challenging the legality of the Tamil Nadu Assembly resolution.
A two-judge Bench comprising Justice Y K Sabharwal and Justice S B Sinha will hear the petition after the Bench assembles at 10.30 a.m.
Prasad to seek reversal of order
Information and Broadcasting Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad today said he would request the Tamil Nadu Speaker to reverse the order to arrest six senior journalists.
"This (the TN Assembly decision) is unfortunate and regrettable and it has certainly disturbed me," he told reporters in Delhi.
"Freedom of the Press is an important constitutional guarantee....the press has every right to report and criticise," he said.
"The daily has already moved the Supreme Court on the issue and as the matter was sensitive, he could not disclose the details, Ram said."
INDIAN Supreme Court? Well we won't hear the end of this matter for about 10 or so years..
It is. But you forget that the judiciary is dealing with a 1 billion plus population. We Indians by and large don't blame the judiciary. We blame the cops.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.