Reporters protest as Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan answers select queries

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan again chastised the media when a section of reporters questioned the propriety of his leaving a news conference venue in Kollam after answering a set of questions raised by the representatives of CPM-run media organizations on Monday.

The chief minister's media interaction ended on a sour note when Vijayan refused to answer questions from mainstream media. A group of journalists from Kairali television channel and Deshabhimani newspaper, run by CPM, took seats well before the news conference began and asked questions one after another, giving Vijayan the opportunity to tear into UDF-led opposition, especially opposition leader V D Satheesan.

When the CM wound up his news conference, saying the time set for it was over and that further questions would be answered the next day, some journalists voiced their protest and told him bluntly that if he was interested in taking questions only from party-run media, he should not have invited others for the news conference.

Initially, Vijayan ignored their protest. However, when the journalists refused to remain silent and said the CM had made it a practice to answer only tailor-made questions from people of his choice, he walked back to the dais. After returning to the seat, the CM said that anyone who had questions should have asked them during the event.

"I can answer only if you raise your question. What can I do if you keep your questions to yourself?" he said, adding that not every reporter who turns up for a news conference might get the opportunity to ask questions. Vijayan said he took questions in the natural course of the interaction and did not differentiate between journalists.

"I answered questions raised by journalists and I did not ask which media house you belong to. Some people have certain objectives. That's what has come on display here now. I stopped because the time is over," he said. He then switched off the mic and walked away.

Like in Pathanamthitta last week, the unattended questions were mostly on SDPI's declaration that it would support LDF in the assembly elections.
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