Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Tuesday described as "unwarranted and unfortunate" the Centre's decision to deploy its security personnel at the office of The Hindu newspaper and at the residence of its editor-in-chief N Ram.
In a letter to Deputy Prime Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani, a copy of which was released to media in Chennai around midnight, Jayalalithaa said she had been told by the state's Director General of Police that Union Joint Secretary (Home) Harminder Singh on Tuesday evening conveyed the Centre's decision.
"This direction of yours is absolutely unwarranted and an extremely unfortunate one. I presume you have not been posted with the correct information leading to this move. It will be extremely unfortunate if this precipitate action is taken. May I suggest that the direction be rescinded forthwith?"
Earlier in the day, Ram had demanded deployment of central forces in front of his office and in the residences of five staffers against whom the Tamil Nadu assembly has issued arrest warrants for breach of privilege, saying the state police was adopting 'intimidatory tactics."
Stating that the state government had already accorded X-category security to Ram, Jayalalithaa said deploying central forces would cause "a malicious slur on the state and cause irreparable damage to Centre-State relations."
Accusing The Hindu group and Ram of having created 'an exaggerated media hype', she said the Union Home Ministry's move was "against the spirit of federalism."
"This decision (to send central forces) would imply that the state government cannot be trusted on a subject, which is exclusively a state subject," the chief minister said.
"There is absolutely no threat to Ram or to The Hindu office as is being made out by the media," she said adding that the orders of the Supreme Court staying the warrants against the five senior staffers of the daily were being fully complied with and implemented by the state police.
She said her government was known for "its record of ensuring that Tamil Nadu was one of the most peaceful states in the country, upholding the rule of law and maintaining perfect law and order."
She pointed out that those who moved the apex court had not alleged lack of security or a threat to their lives in the state. The "very fact that Ram brought up this issue only after two days clearly shows that it is his intention to blow up the whole situation and twist it in his favour to misguide the public and try to aggravate the situation."
She also pointed out the decision to deploy central forces had been taken "when the matter is sub-judice at the level of the Supreme Court."
