Chennai, Nov 12: 'The Hindu' today decided to withdraw its request for deployment of Central forces in its office premises and at the residences of five of its staffers, who were sentenced to 15-day imprisonment by Tamil Nadu Assembly for breach of privilege on Friday. In a statement, the editor-in-chief of 'The Hindu', N. Ram, said he would be writing to Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani accordingly.

He said 'The Hindu' welcomed the assurance given by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa in her letter to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Union Home Minister L K Advani that "the orders of the apex court are being fully complied with and implemented by the state police and also that there is a absolutely no threat to The Hindu". "This acceptance of the power of judicial review over the matters of legislative privilege is institutionally important," he said.

Bureau Report