TESO meet hangs in balance as it awaits court order

Caught in a legal wrangle, the fate of the pro-Eelam TESO meet here tomorrow hangs in the balance with hearing on the plea against it by the High Court pending, even as the Centre did a U-turn, saying it had no objection to the word 'Eelam' (separate homeland) being used.

On a day marked by eleventh hour drama, a single judge of the court declined to hear a plea by Tamil Eelam Supporters Organisation, challenging the police ban on the international meet, called by DMK chief M Karunanidhi, who himself made a climbdown, changing the venue.

In a change of its stance, the Ministry of External Affairs in a fresh communication to the conference organisers said that taking note of their clarifications, they had no objection to the meet with the title of 'Eelam Tamil Livelihood Rights Protection Conference.'

As the petition by TESO challenging the ban came up for hearing, Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar directed that the plea be put before Chief Justice M Y Eqbal for placing it before a bench on the ground it would not be appropriate for him to hear the plea as the issue is before a division bench.

In a late evening development, court sources said, the matter would come up for hearing before a bench around noon tomorrow.

The ministry of external affairs in its communication to TESO placed before the court however advised the organisers to ensure that the conference does not issue any declaration or outcome calling into question in any manner the sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity of any foreign country with whom India has diplomatic relations.

This position marks an about turn from its Aug 9 letter to TESO, stating that it had no objection to the meet from "political angle" but with a rider that the word "Eelam" be dropped from the title of the conference.

In a late evening statement, Karunanidhi said the meet would happen as per schedule, but the venue would be changed to the DMK headquarters Anna Arivalayam, should the court rule against the event.