New Delhi: Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani today (Nov 6) said that the Supreme Court order staying the execution of the arrest warrants against five senior journalists of 'The Hindu' newspaper by the Tamil Nadu Assembly is "good for democracy".

"If the stay has been given, it is good for democracy", he said when asked to comment on the apex Court's decision in this regard.

Earlier a delegation of MPs and MLAs from Opposition parties in the state met the Deputy Prime Minister and presented a memorandum detailing the situation in the wake of the Assembly Speaker's sentencing the senior journalists.

Union Ministers belonging to Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) and Pattali Makkal Katchhi (PMK) were present.

Observing that he was a journalist before entering active politics, Advani said freedom of press was something he valued immensely and if there was any development that adversely affected it he felt sad.

The DPM said that since this particular case stems from the action of Legislature, he would not like to comment as freely as on a decision taken by the executive.

PTI