Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa yesterday (November 11) described as "unwarranted and unfortunate" Centre's decision to deploy its security force at the office of 'The Hindu' and at the residence of its Editor-in-chief N Ram and demanded that the directive be rescinded.

In a letter to Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, a copy of which was released to media around midnight, she said she had been told by the State Director General of Police that Union Joint Home Secretary Harminder Singh this evening had conveyed to him that the Centre had decided to deploy "some Central security force" at the office of 'The Hindu' and the residence of Ram.

"This direction of yours is absolutely unwarranted and an extremely unfortunate one. I presume you have not been posted with the correct information leading to this move. It will be extremely unfortunate if this precipitate action is taken."

She said, "May I suggest that the direction be rescinded forthwith?"

Earlier in the day, Ram had demanded deployment of Central forces in front of his office and in the residences of five staffers against whom arrest warrants have been issued for breach of privilege of Tamil Nadu Assembly, saying that the State police was adopting "intimidatory tactics".

Stating that Ram had already been accorded "X" scale security by the State Government, Jayalalithaa said dispatch of Central force despite this would case "a malicious slur on the State and cause irreparable damage to the Centre-State relations".

Accusing 'The Hindu' group and Ram of having created "an exaggerated media hype and whip up a frenzy blowing the entire matter out of proportion", she said the move by the Home Ministry was totally unwarranted and against the spirit of federalism.

"There is absolutely no threat to Ram or to 'The Hindu' office as is being made out by the media," she said, adding that the orders of the Supreme Court staying the warrants against the five senior staffers of the daily were being fully complied with and implemented by the State police.

She said her Government was known for "its record of ensuring that Tamil Nadu was one of the most peaceful States in the country, upholding the rule of law and maintaining perfect law and order".

The petitioners before the apex court had not alleged lack of security or threat to their lives in the State, she said, adding the "very fact that this has been brought up to you only after two days by Mr Ram clearly shows that it is his intention to blow up the whole situation and twist it in his favour to misguide the public and try to aggravate the situation which is totally normal".

She said it was most unfortunate that the decision to direct deployment of Central forces had been taken "especially when the matter is sub-judice at the level of the Supreme Court" and "this decision (to send Central forces) would imply that the State Government cannot be trusted on a subject which is exclusively a State subject."

PTI