Media objects to chief minister's remarks

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala's chief minister V.S. Achuthanandan yesterday faced some high voltage response from various quarters after his statement that a "media syndicate" working out of the state was accepting funds from abroad and was bent on tarnishing his image.

Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan and Achuthanandan, widely perceived to be heading two factions of the party, had both been hinting a section of media personnel in Kerala have been on the payroll of the US's CIA.

The chief minister went one step further yesterday when he named two of the oldest newspapers in Kerala, Deepika and Malayala Manorama to be part of the "syndicate". Both the newspapers have been functioning from the late 19th century and have not taken the chief minister's comment lightly.

Editorial

Organisations like the Latin Catholic Aikya Vedi have also issued statements rejecting the chief minister's remark.

In a page one editorial today that lambasts Achuthanandan, Deepika has challenged the chief minister to prove his allegation that the paper was receiving funds from abroad.

"Use any investigating agency to inquire into the source of funds of Deepika. If you prove that your allegation is true, we will give you Rs10 million [Dh83,333]. You can take that money home or you can take it for your relief fund. On the other hand, if you are unable to prove your allegation, will you take the responsibility as the politician who has made the most number of false allegations since the formation of the state of Kerala and end your political life?" wrote the paper.