New Delhi: Noted constitutional experts cutting across their political lineage today (Nov 8) unequivocally decried the Tamil Nadu Assembly decision to sentence journalists and termed this as a "frontal attack on press freedom".

Former Law Minister and eminent lawyer Ram Jethmalani said "the action of the Assembly is a direct assault on the freedom of press and I am sure the media will rise to the occasion to meet the challenge."

Speaking from Mumbai, he said the issue would be raised "strongly" in Parliament when it meets on December 2 and added that in situations like this, unless the Prime Minister came out strongly against the action of the Tamil Nadu Assembly, such incidents would keep on repeating.

"I think unless the Prime Minister makes some strong statement and asserts his power, this kind of thing will continue to repeat," he said and alleged that "merely because there is a possibility of a tie-up with All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is tongue tied."

Congress MP and noted lawyer Kapil Sibal said "it is time that the court should intervene and stop this kind of frontal attack on the freedom of press."

He termed the order of the Assembly on breach of privilege of the House against the journalists as an attack on "all that India stood for, freedom of press and democracy".

PTI