Tamil Nadu government today virtually defended the cases filed against a Tamil TV news channel and others over a debate, saying no police permission was granted for it and blamed communally sensitive remarks by some participants for the trouble at the event.
The government honoured freedom of expression but had a responsibility to take action to maintain communal harmony and law and order situation, Chief Minister K Palaniswami told the state assembly.
Responding to demands by opposition parties, led by DMK, for withdrawal of the cases, he also said a decision on their plea would be taken after completion of the probe into the trouble during the "Round Table debate on people's right to protest" conducted by the channel in Coimbatore on June 8.
Police have registered against 'Puthiya Thalaimurai' channel and its reporter, who had booked a private college for holding the debate, MLA U Thaniyarasu and film director Ameer.
Various journalists' organisations and political parties have criticised the police action.
Raising the issue in the assembly, Leader of the Opposition M K Stalin of DMK said his party condemned filing of cases and Ameer and sought withdrawal of them.
Congress Legislature Party leader K R Ramasamy and allies of the ruling AIADMK, Thaniyarasu (Tamil Nadu Kongu Ilaignar Peravai) and M Thamimun Ansari (Jayananayaka Manithaneya Makkal Katchi) too endorsed his demand.
Palaniswami cited the police probe into the matter and said "action will be taken," based on its outcome.
Noting that the recent Tuticorin incidents (related to violence and police firing during the anti-Sterlite protests) were also discussed in the debate, he said such references could affect law and order situation in the port town.
Giving a detailed account, he said police had not given permission for holding the event though security was provided considering the participation of leaders from various parties.
When police was approached over the event, it advised the channel against holding such shows in communally sensitive Coimbatore, as it may lead to law and order issues, he said.
For about an hour and half the event went off without any problems and "when Thaniyarasu (MLA) remarked about Babri mosque demolition and things unrelated to the debate, it led to some ripples," he said.
After the MLA, when Ameer "spoke about some controversial views," it was objected by "supporters of a particular party," he said referring BJP supporters without naming the party.
Slogans were raised against the director, he said adding "despite a leader (BJP Tamil Nadu unit chief Tamilisai Soundararajan) of that party pacifying them, ruckus continued and the show was ended (by the organisers)."
Referring to discussions about the Tuticorin incidents, he said: "Such debate shows must have been avoided when cases are pending about Tuticorin incidents at the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court and when Justice Aruna Jagadeesan led one person inquiry commission is probing it."
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