The Hindu : 'A clean case of political vendetta'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Nov 23, 2003

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'A clean case of political vendetta'

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI NOV. 22. D. Jayakumar, Minister for Law, Information Technology and Electricity, has issued a press statement "in the wake of Messrs. Karunanidhi, P. Chidambaram, Ramadoss and co. raising false cries about the Supreme Court directives in the wealth case against Puratchi Thalaivi Amma". Here are excerpts from the five-page statement:

"On the basis of the directions given by the Supreme Court on 18.11.2003, pertaining to the wealth case involving Puratchi Thalaivi Amma, Mr. Karunanidhi has given an interview which has been published in Murasoli on 20.11.2003. Without any feeling of distress or outrage whatsoever, that we have to send our Chief Minister who represents the six-crore people of Tamil Nadu to Karnataka when that State has been inimically functioning against the interests of Tamil Nadu, Mr. Karunanidhi has welcomed the verdict.

"In the same tone The Hindu has written on 20.11.2003 in its editorial under the cloak of Freedom of Press. Some other newspapers like The Hindustan Times, Telegraph, Deccan Herald etc., have been expressing their views according to their whims. In this context, Mr. P. Chidambaram has given vent to his views.

"Much ado has been made about Puratchi Thalaivi Amma's non-appearance in court in the wealth case. It is common knowledge that since 1996, Puratchi Thalaivi Amma has entered the portals of various courts any number of times and has never shied away from appearing in court. In the present case, Puratchi Thalaivi Amma was unable to make her personal appearance because of her illness. But the media and the press in particular have chosen to make snide comments on it ad nauseum.

"It is obvious that Puratchi Thalaivi Amma is the supreme leader of the masses and she has given much of welfare aid to indigent people and piloted many thousand crores worth of welfare projects inaugurating schemes by directly visiting the districts. In a State of more than six-crore people, the majority have given to Puratchi Thalaivi Amma the mandate to rule and the governance is entirely for the welfare of the people and is not for pleasing people like Mr. Karunanidhi. The Constitution of India enables codification of Legislative Privileges. But just because they have the wherewithal, newspapers cannot write as they feel and like in the name of press freedom. This cannot be accepted by those who accept the rule of law and the privileges of the Legislature.

"Despite being a democracy there are certain sections of the society that are given special privileges. One such section is the Press. Today, day in and day out, the Press slanders politicians. If denials are issued they are not published or they are diluted or mutilated following the dictum suppressio veri suggestio falsi. If defamation cases are filed, immediately the Press makes it out that they are being intimidated, gagged and are being subjugated. Further, they all gang up together and hype up the situation to make it seem that they are being throttled.

"In court, Judges often make unsavoury, uncharitable and cutting remarks about the entire political class and sometmes viciously target particular leaders. But politicians have no recourse to undo the injustice, which is heaped on them. If the courts make any comment and if a politician reacts to it, he or she is hauled up for contempt of court, whereas however unjustified the comments, the politician has to bear the brunt, with the media left free.

"Apropos of the wealth case against Puratchi Thalaivi Amma, it has to be stated that she owns no property abroad and nothing further can be stated as the case is sub-judice. Here is a clear case of political encounter or vendetta with the head of an elected people's government being sought to be dislodged on the basis of the Supreme Court's observations against the conduct of the wealth case in Chennai."

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