Wayanad aid memorandum: Kerala CM slams media for 'destructive journalism'

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday slammed a section of the media for allegedly spreading "fake news" about the memorandum prepared by the state government for central aid in the context of the Wayanad landslide disaster, terming it "destructive journalism."

He warned that the government is increasingly compelled to take legal action against such "misleading campaigns."

"What is happening in Kerala is destructive journalism. A section of the media has turned into factories for creating controversies," Vijayan said at a press conference. The Chief Minister said that Kerala has been discredited due to the fake news.

He alleged that after the media spread false information, a fake narrative emerged, claiming that Kerala was attempting to unfairly grab aid.

"The opposition also seized upon these reports. The aim behind these stories was to discredit the state government by any means," Vijayan added.

The CM clarified that it is not the ministers who prepare the memorandum in the wake of a disaster, but rather professionals who have proven expertise in the field. He said that the media had misinterpreted the data prepared by these experts.

The figures in the memorandum are not exaggerated, but are projected estimates, he added.

"Educated media personnel labelling expected expenses as 'expenditure' and later 'inflating amounts' is not merely a problem of lack of education; it reflects their specific vested interests. The government is compelled to take legal action against such misleading campaigns," the Chief Minister said.

The CM alleged that the media misinterpreted the High Court's judgment regarding the memorandum.

"Interferences in Administrative Justice are occurring. Considering this, it's time to contemplate taking legal actions," Vijayan said. In previous statements, Vijayan had said that the government had submitted a memorandum detailing estimated and additional expenses to the Kerala High Court.

"Currently, there are attempts to use that document to unjustly target the state government, which undermines the state's interests," he had asserted. Vijayan had also called on the media to rectify the "false report."

On Saturday, he criticised the media, asserting that this is not the first instance of media outlets spreading false information. "We have numerous examples of the media's criminal obsession with distortion. They consistently launch attacks not only against the government but also against political figures and individuals who are not in their favour," Vijayan alleged.

Launching a scathing attack, he claimed that some media outlets are becoming tools for undermining Kerala. They attempt to mislead by spreading false information on various issues. This unacceptable behaviour needs to be actively discussed by the public, which is why I'm elaborating on this," he said.

Vijayan noted that attacking individuals, political parties, and criticising the government is typical for certain media outlets. "Nothing new here, but what's alarming is that they're now targeting the state itself," he added. 

Taking a dig at the media, Vijayan said that the recent false propaganda regarding Wayanad relief funds exemplifies the depth and extent of mainstream media's anti-leftist stance.

"After spreading falsehoods throughout the day, some even had the audacity to claim they were misled. After initially reporting incorrect information, they later corrected it, yet they pretend to be the ones who reported it accurately first. This is the state of the Malayalam media," the Chief Minister alleged.

Vijayan noted a surge of fake news and agenda-driven misinformation amid the competition among news channels. "There is a lingering doubt in society about whether these individuals are attempting to obstruct the central assistance that should be provided following the disaster," he charged.

Highlighting that the state has yet to recover from the calamity and that Kerala is working collectively towards Wayanad's recovery, he appealed to the media-- "The struggles for survival of a community should not be trivialised for the sake of channel ratings."