New Delhi: Defence Minister George Fernandes today (November 9) said the Tamil Nadu Assembly's action against the senior journalists of 'The Hindu' was something that had not happened even during the "dark days of Emergency".

"It is galling I have to see that 'The Hindu' and its editors relive those dark days today," he said in a statement issued after his return from a five-day official visit of Kyrgystan and Kazakhstan.

Expressing hope that Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa would "resile" from her position, Fernandes, who is also the Samata Party president, said the daily had a reputation for objectivity both in the presentation of news and in its editorial comments, in keeping with the old adage that "news is sacred, comment is free".

"What is happening to 'The Hindu' and its editors is something that had not happened even during the dark days of Indira Gandhi's Emergency," he said.

Fernandes said he could not find anything in 'The Hindu' editorial, which was reproduced in another national daily today, that could be termed as breach of privilege or contempt of the House.

PTI