The Hindu : `A black day for democracy and freedom of the press'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Nov 08, 2003

National

National

`A black day for democracy and freedom of the press'

By R.K. Radhakrishnan

CHENNAI NOV. 7. The Opposition parties in Tamil Nadu have condemned the unprecedented attack on the press and the affront to democracy in the Legislative Assembly today.

The DMK president, M. Karunanidhi, announced that the major Opposition parties would form a "human chain" in all district headquarters on November 12, to protest the Assembly decision. "November 7 will be etched as the black day for Parliamentary democracy and freedom of the press," he said.

The day marked the curtailment of the right to freedom of speech and expression. He said the action was an affirmation of the pattern in the Jayalalithaa regime — anyone who dares to speak the truth or have the courage to publish impartial views would be ruthlessly put down.

The Paattali Makkal Katchi founder, S. Ramadoss, said that ordering the incarceration of six senior journalists at the same time was unprecedented and heaped "shame" on the parliamentary democratic process. "The Assembly and the Speaker might have all the powers and the ruling party might have the majority for passing any resolution," he said and added that the actions taken against The Hindu, Murasoli and the DMK MLA, Parithi Ilamvazhuthi, should be dropped. There was precedence for this, he said and added that the Jayalalithaa Government should follow MGR's footsteps and drop the action against the press.

The TNCC president, S. Balakrishnan, said the action against journalists of the 125-year-old The Hindu, which had fought for the country's freedom was "unacceptable and cruel." So was the arrest of the DMK MLA. "This is an autocratic regime disguised as a democratic one," he said condemning the incident.

In Dindigul, the CPI(M) central committee member, N. Sankaraiah, strongly condemned the action taken against the editors, reporters and the publisher of The Hindu and the Opposition MLAs and described it as "anti-democratic." He said the AIADMK technically used the powers of the Privilege Committee. With a majority of ruling party members in the committee they did this. This was a wrong precedent. People in Tamil Nadu would not allow and entertain this. Now AIADMK was isolated in the State.

The CPI(M) central committee member, T.K. Rengarajan, criticised the decision and characterised it as a frontal assault on the roots of democracy. "All organisations interested in the preservation of democracy should rise to the occasion now against this unlawful act," he said.

In Vedaranyam, the CPI State secretary R. Nallakannu, strongly condemned the strictures passed against Mr. Ilamvazhuthi, and the journalists in the name of "privilege committee" by the State Government. He told reporters at Karupampulam that the order said to have been issued by the privileges committee was against the democratic norms of the Legislative Assembly. Further, passing strictures against journalists could only be construed as an act of curbing freedom of press.

The MDMK treasurer, M. Kannappan, said the Speaker, who had to function impartially was now functioning as a tool of the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa. The decision went against the Constitutionally-enshrined guarantees on freedom of speech and expression.

"It is a black day for democracy and for the freedom of the press," said the CJP general secretary, P. Chidambaram.

The Puthiya Tamizhagam president, K. Krishnasamy, condemned the Government's action calling it outrageous and added that the decision should be withdrawn. The Janata Dal (United) State president, K. Raajasekaran, said the actions in the Assembly made a "mockery of democracy."

The Tamil Nadu Consumer Rights Council president, N. Jamaludheen, condemned the arrest warrant against journalists of The Hindu. "This is nothing but dictatorship in the name of democracy. The Governor should intervene. The Constitutional head of the country, the Honourable President, should take steps to (protect) the freedom of press," he said.

The Madras Union of Journalists, the Tamil Nadu Union of Journalists and the Chennai Press Club also condemned the decision.

The BJP secretary, L. Ganesan, speaking from New Delhi, said that this reminded him of the "Emergency days." The Government should correct itself, on the basis of reports appearing in the newspapers. The press should be allowed to function freely. He appealed to the Speaker to reconsider the decision.

The DPI general secretary, Thol.Thirumavalavan, said he was shocked at the decision. "While targeting the political parties has been the norm, it has now been made clear that the Jayalalithaa Government will spare no one who dares to speak the truth."

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National