Thursday, Apr 24, 2003
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Tamil Nadu
By Our Special Correspondent
Soon after question hour, the Speaker said The Hindu, in its April 12 report, ``Walk-out to protest CM offensive'', published phrases ``contrary to truth'' with a motive to tarnish the reputation of the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa. The phrases the Speaker found objectionable are: ``The Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa's stinging abuse... '', ``unrestrained attack on the Opposition'', ``Ms. Jayalalithaa fumed... '' and ``incensed Ms. Jayalalithaa alleged in a high-pitched tone''. The next day, The Hindu published an article, which contained phrases such as ``the chastisement they received at the hands of the Chief Minister'', ``... 43 legislators who raised this issue, were not only evicted, but also removed to the North Beach police station here a couple of days ago... '', and ``... Most of the Congress legislators are shocked at the epithet the Chief Minister threw at the Opposition for its behaviour..'' In another report, ``Jayalalithaa taunts Marxixts again'', published on April 23, The Hindu said: ``Stung by the Chief Minister's diatribe, the Marxist members..'' and ``she said education alone would not make a man sane as leaders like Dr. Ramadoss and Dr. Krishnasamy were notorious for casteist fanaticism''. Listing the reports, the Speaker said, ``Publishing (reports containing) derogatory words with a motive of lowering the dignity and fame of the Government and infringing the privilege of the Assembly amounted to breach of privilege of the House.'' As publication of such ``baseless, unfair remarks and charges'' disrespected the House and infringed the sovereignty of the House, the Speaker said, under Rule 226 of the Assembly, he was referring the reports to the Privileges Committee. The Speaker prefaced his announcement with a statement that, ``The nation and the House know that the rights of the Press are being fully protected as far as the Assembly is concerned.''
Privilege issue against SRB
A privilege issue was slapped on the Congress legislature party leader, S. R. Balasubramaniam, as well, for his ``motivated, baseless and unfair'' statement yesterday that the Intelligence service of the police was operating the microphone systems in the House. Making such an ``unfounded'' allegation ``without conforming to the conventions of the House, abusing the rights of the members to breach the privilege of the House and tarnishing the House and its functioning amounts to lowering the dignity of the Assembly''. When the Assembly was subjected to such ``defamatory statements'' not only the privilege of the House was breached, but it would also undermine democracy, the Speaker said. When Mr. Balasubramaniam protested the Speaker's ruling and said the breach of privilege complaint he had given against the Chief Minister three days ago should also be taken up, Mr. Kalimuthu said he would take it up tomorrow.
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