New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday said
its order of restraining any form of bandh activities in Tamil
Nadu on Sethusamudram project row would remain in force.
A Bench of Justices G S Singhvi and A K Ganguly said the
apex court order of September 30, 2007, "will continue to
be in force" until the Madras High Court determines the writ
petition filed by AIADMK challenging the October 1, 2007,
bandh called by DMK-front on the project.
The apex court had on September 30, 2007, stayed the
bandh called by the DMK-led front government.
AIADMK has filed the SLP after the Madras High Court
declined to interfere with the party`s plea for restraining
the ruling combine from going ahead with the bandh call over
the delay in the execution of the project.
AIADMK in the SLP had contended that the proposed
bandh was unconstitutional and violative of the apex court`s
directive on the issue.
"That`s the problem in this country. We have to deal
everything with an iron hand in this country. Otherwise,
things will not work. Every organ, be it the legislature, the
executive or the judiciary, has to deal with an iron hand,"
the apex court had observed while staying the bandh at that
time.
AIADMK had challenged the bandh by citing the apex
court`s judgement in 1998 upholding the ruling of a full bench
of the Kerala High Court that calling or enforcing a bandh was
illegal and unconstitutional.
The apex court had earlier held that a bandh call
essentially paralysed public life and was violative of the
Fundamental Rights guaranteed under Article 19 (Freedom of
Speech) and Article 21 (Right To Liberty) of the Constitution.
PTI
Hyderabad: Expressing serious concern over
the vertical split in the party`s state unit over the
Telangana issue, Andhra Pradesh Congress president D Srinivas
today asked party leaders to put an end to the war of words.
"I am sorry about it. I am hurt about it. This practice
of reactions and counter reactions is not good. This war of
words should not whip up regional passions among Telugu
people. The Srikrishna Committee is on the job. We should
behave in a decent way. I am requesting all to put an end to
this," he told reporters here.
He was asked about the serious war of words among party
leaders that has divided the party on regional lines. This is
first time that the PCC president has made such an appeal.
Congress leaders from Telangana region held a meeting
here yesterday and they decided to press the demand for
constitution of a separate Pradesh Congress Committee for
Telangana.
The party leaders from non-Telangana regions announced
their plan to hold a meeting later this week.
Asked about the demand for a separate PCC for Telangana,
Srinivas said there is nothing new in it.
To a query, Srinivas said Kadapa MP Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy
himself said his yatra is personal and as such the party would
have nothing to do with it.
He was asked about the reported appeal of Nellore
Congress MP M Rajamohan Reddy to the party cadre to
participate in Jagan`s controversial yatra.
APCC is in the process of collecting details about the
beneficiaries to be given financial assistance as announced by
the Congress high command to support those who died following
the death of Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, Srinivas said.
"The process of identifying the beneficiaries may come to
an end in another one week or 10 days. It will be done and
there is no question of going back on that. Congress MPs, MLAs
will be involved in the process," he said.
Taking strong exception to reported allegation by TDP
Chief N Chandrababu Naidu that corruption during late Y S
Rajasekhara Reddy`s regime took place with the knowledge of
Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Srinivas said a senior
political leader like Naidu should maintain the standards in
public life.
"Sonia Gandhi cannot be compared with anyone else. She
has acquired a rare stature. Naidu`s allegations are strange
and only show his frustration. Congressmen cannot tolerate
such allegations against Sonia Gandhiji," he said.
Stating that he did not believe in the allegations made
against Rajasekhara Reddy, he said Naidu should submit any
proofs of the alleged corruption to the concerned agencies
instead of making false charges.
Talking about Naidu`s tour of Mahabubnagar district today
to protest the alleged inadequate supply of fertilisers to
farmers, Srinivas said the government would eventually see to
it that farmers get fertilisers as required by them.
Asked about protests and stone-pelting allegedly by TRS
workers against Naidu`s visit, he said it was done by another
party and the Congress does not have anything to do with it.
On TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao`s threat of a
"quake" or "tsunami" after the Sri Krishna committee submitted
its report, the PCC president said the issue would be dealt
after the report is submitted.
PTI
