Chennai: The Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Assembly K Kalimuthu today (November 9) accused the media of "whipping up a totally unwarranted and personal campaign" against Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and said the functioning of the Legislature cannot be obstructed by the Press, which has no "such separate rights" under the Constitution.

In a four-page explanation issued this evening, he said the Chief Minister had "absolutely no part individually in this decision" of the Assembly awarding 15 days Simple Imprisonment to 'The Hindu' staffers and to the Murasoli editor.

The punishment imposed was solely on account of the "breach of privilege and gross contempt of the House" committed by 'The Hindu' through its editorial on April 25 last and also the 'Murasoli' for publishing the same on April 26.

"In all the din created by the media in the wake of the resolutions passed by the Assembly, a deliberate attempt was being made by those sentenced to mobilise support through political parties and other sections of the media to portray the breach of privilege and the consequent action of the Assembly as being scripted by Jayalalithaa."

"This itself reflects a desperate attempt by those sentenced to extricate themselves by totally distorting the facts in a crude attempt to mobilise support of the media and of some political parties, who would like to fish in troubled waters for their gain," Kalimuthu said.

PTI