HC issues notices to Pranab, Natwar, Y S R Reddy

New Delhi June 27 (UNI) The Delhi High Court today issued notices to External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukerjee, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and former Congress leader K Natwar Singh on a defamation suit filed by one Dr K A Paul, the ''Global peace maker'' A K Paul.

Mr Paul has sought Rs one crore, as damages caused due to the cancellation of his project on account of their defamatory remarks.

He had also paid Rs 90,200 as court fees for the suit claiming the damages.

Vacation Judge H R Malhotra terming the case as not urgent, referved it to the regular bench for July 8 and issued notices to all the three respondents.

Mr Paul, who is residing in United States, has been working for a Global Peace initiative. In May, 2005 he organised a Peace Summit to present the cause of India to be a permanant member of the United Nations Security Council, and arranged a tour to five countries to propogate the idea. He made all arrangements, including an aeroplane to go on this tour and requested former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda to accompany him.

Mr Paul alleged that on hearing this Mr Singh telephoned Mr Gowda and made defamatory remarks against him whereby the former Prime Minister cancelled the trip. As the tour was cancelled, the prospective Donors for the project cancelled their programme. Cancellation of the tour made him lose crores of rupees which would have been received as donations.

The charges levelled against the AP Chief Minister are that he wrote a defamatory letter to the External Affairs Ministry, restraining Mr Paul to complete his mission.

Allegations levelled by Mr Paul against Mr Mukherjee are that he called him a ''joker'' for inviting Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to India.

In turn Mr Mukherjee scolded Mr Paul asking him that how can he invite the president of any country without the prior permission of the government.

UNI