For the first time in his tenure, which began in 2016, Vijayan spent 100 minutes addressing the media, breaking a month-long silence despite several controversies brewing in the state. During this unprecedented press interaction, he sharply criticized the media for what he claimed was a deliberate attempt to portray his government in a negative light.
Vijayan focused particularly on the controversy that erupted during the Onam festival, when news broke about the state’s memorandum regarding the Wayanad disaster. The memorandum was submitted to the Centre following the catastrophic event in Wayanad that claimed hundreds of lives. He claimed that the media, particularly television channels and print outlets, had spread misinformation, accusing the state government of exaggerating and submitting false details. This narrative, he noted, gained traction on social media, sparking widespread misunderstanding.
“We issued a statement with the correct information, but it didn’t get the attention it deserved,” Vijayan said. “A criminal agenda appears to be at play behind this fake news. This is not ethical journalism, but a destructive and criminal act. Some media outlets corrected their mistake, which is commendable, but a section persisted in spreading the wrong narrative.”
Vijayan emphasized that journalism’s role is to strengthen democracy, not to mislead the public. He accused certain media outlets of attempting to tarnish the government’s image, which in turn, created confusion and undermined public trust, especially in initiatives like the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF). He further clarified that the memorandum submitted on the Wayanad disaster adhered to Central guidelines and was prepared by trained professionals, not state ministers, following established norms and standards.
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The Chief Minister expressed his disappointment that the Centre had yet to respond to the state’s memorandum, despite the gravity of the disaster, which occurred on July 30 and left four villages in Wayanad devastated, with approximately 400 dead and over 90 still missing.
Vijayan concluded by warning that journalism in Kerala has shifted focus, with some now using it as a tool to harm the state’s interests, calling on the people of Kerala to critically examine this dangerous trend.
