Privilege issue against media not to be insisted: Stalin

Chennai, Oct 19 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Local Administration Minister M K Stalin, who moved a breach of privilege issue against AIADMK supremo and Leader of the Opposition J Jayalalithaa, today said he was not insisting the same against the media for publishing her remarks.

Making a statement under Rule 110 in the State Assembly, he said that while speaking on the breach of privilege issue in the House yesterday, he had orally stated that breach of privilege should be initiated against the media also for publishing her remarks that he and Chief Minister M Karunanidhi were conspiring to eliminate her.

''Though breach of privilege cases had been filed against the media during the previous AIADMK regime, it went against the DMK's policy,'' he added.

Mr Stalin said that following instructions from the party high command, he was not insisting on initiating breach of privilege against the media. His clarification comes in the wake of reports in a section of the media that he wanted breach of privilege case initiated against the media, he added.

Reacting to the Opposition contention that Ms Jayalalithaa's remark would not attract breach of privilege as she had made it outside the House, he recalled the punishment given to 'Murasoli' Selvam, who was not a member of the House, for writing an article in 'Murasoli' during the mid 80s.

''Not only this, during the previous AIADMK regimes, several breach of privilege cases had been filed against the then Leader of the Opposition M Karunanidhi for his articles in Murasoli and his remarks outside the House,'' he pointed out.

Recalling Ms Jayalalithaa's statement in the House on September 28, 2005, during a breach of privilege case against Mr Karunanidhi, he said she had stated that being a member of the House, Mr Karunanidhi should have made the remarks on the floor of the Assembly and defamatory statements made outside would also attract breach of privilege.

Mr Stalin said Ms Jayalalithaa even went to the extent of saying that being a Chief Minister and when the House was in session, she could not express any view or write articles outside the House.

''These remarks of Ms Jayalalithaa are still in Assembly records,'' he said, adding that his breach of privilege case against her was referred to the Privileges Committee on the lines of those sent during the previous AIADMK regime.

UNI