City police today refused permission for a pro-Eelam meet called here tomorrow by DMK, forcing it to change the venue of its much-touted event 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 drama, a single judge of Madras High Court declined to hear a plea by Tamil Eelam Supporters Organisation, challenging the ban citing security reasons.

The eleventh-hour refusal of permission by police came as a blow to DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi who is trying to resuscitate defunct TESO founded by him in the wake of murderous attacks on minority Tamils in Sri Lanka in 1980s.

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.

Court sources said the matter would come up for hearing before a bench around noon tomorrow.

Awaiting the court order, Karunanidhi said in a late evening statement that the meet would take place as per schedule but the venue would be changed to DMK headquarters Anna Arivalayam if the court ruled against the event at YMCA grounds.

The police ban came hours after the Centre and the Jayalalithaa government raised certain objections in Madras High Court yesterday, particularly to the use of the word "Eelam" (separate home land for Tamils) in the meet's title.

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 marks a departure from its position stated in its Aug 9 letter to TESO that it had no objection to the meet from the "political angle" provided the word "Eelam" was dropped from the title of the conference.

Karunanidhi said all steps are being taken through the court to deal with the denial of police permission. "If the ban continues (with the court upholding it), then the Eelam Tamils Rights Protection Conference will be held on Sunday evening at Anna Arivalayam (party headquarters).

However, he said the morning conclave, which would discuss resolutions to be adopted at the meeting in the evening, would be held as scheduled at a hotel here.

Eelam signifies the separate nationhood concept from Sri Lanka, the core of armed struggle by the now decimated LTTE, which is not in line with India's stand on the ethnic issue in Sri Lanka.

Justifying denial of permission by police for the meet, rejection order, Navaneethakrishnan said it had been passed in the larger public interests.

Stating that it was the state government's responsibility to maintain law and order, he claimed the situation could become "worse than what was witnessed during the Babri Masjid incident at Ayodhaya."

TESO was not a recognised organisation. It was illegal and only in existence on paper, the Advocate General said.

Charging the organisers with "hiding" something, he pointed out that while applying to the YMCA it was stated that the ground was required for a DMK conference, while in the letter to police they sought permission for holding a TESO conference.

"All is not well.All is not good. Public safety and tranquility is at stake," he said and made it clear that the government was not likely to reconsider its decision to grant permission in veiw of the intellegence reports.

Appearing on behalf of the petitioner J Anbalagan MLA and member of TESO, advocate P Wilson told the court that about 8000 people were expected to attend the conference.

He alleged that the government was relying on reports appearing in a section of the press that over one lakh people were expected to attend the conference.

Intervening, Navaneethakrishnan said the statement was contained in the DMK party organ "Murusoli', which carried statements from district secretaries giving the numbers, which was being relied upon by the government.

Wilson charged the police with violating TESO's fundamental rights by not providing it with the opportunity to explain itself as required under section 41(4) of the Tamil Nadu Police Act.