Pondicherry, Apr 17: Pandemonium prevailed in the Pondicherry assembly during Zero Hour today with opposition DMK members raising the issue of arrest of Tamil magazine "Nakeeran"' editor R R Gopal and the 'misuse' of Pota against him by the Tamil Nadu government. The DMK members later walked out of the House after Speaker D Ramachandran refused permission to admit their plea for adjourning the proceedings to discuss the issue. As soon as the Zero Hour began, DMK sought permission from Speaker for a discussion on the issue. Leader of opposition R V Janakiraman also referred to the boycott of the proceedings of the Question Hour by the entire media. S P Sivakumar, also from DMK, said “freedom of press was at stake”.
Janakiraman also urged that a resolution be adopted in the House after discussion to draw the attention of the Centre on the 'misuse' of Pota and the 'gagging' of press. At this stage, AIADMK member A Anbalagan opposed the DMK's plea and said Gopal had been arrested for his "anti-national activities."

The House was engulfed in noisy scenes for nearly 30 minutes culminating in the DMK members walking out, raising slogans against 'misuse' of Pota and also 'muzzling' of press freedom (in Tamil Nadu).

Earlier, intervening in the matter, former chief minister and Congress member V Vaithilingam said his party had opposed Pota tooth and nail in its nascent stage anticipating the possibility of the act being misused.

Chief Minister N Rangasamy said the press in Pondicherry had no grouse or grievance against his government.

Bureau Report