Parrikar attacks media; says most organisations backed by Congress

In a blistering attack on media, Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has alleged that most national news channels were being backed by the Congress.

Parrikar was speaking Tuesday at a public function at Quepem, a sub-district located 50 km from Panaji, a few days after the media, quoting opposition leaders, reported that two BJP MLAs had engaged in an alcohol-fuelled fight while they were in New Delhi to attend their party's recently concluded national executive.

"I want to ask these channels in Delhi, where do you get their benefit from? I know all their money comes from the Congress ... Financially, none of the channels are viable," said Parrikar.

Parrikar, who at a press conference on New Year's day this year, requested media to report "positively", also asked why newspapers in Goa had chosen to "waste time", writing about the alleged fight between two MLAs.

"Did they not have anything good to show? I am speaking clearly. There is a vested interest. Once this government came to power many vested interests have been pinched. I used to be surprised when the earlier government did nothing, but always managed to get good mileage in newspapers," Parrikar claimed.

Sanguem MLA Subhash Phaldesai, who was at the receiving end of the alleged drunken slugfest at the New Delhi-based Goa Niwas in the early hours of Jan 18, claimed that he had fallen from a flight of stairs at the Chanakyapuri-based state residency.

"I have injuries on my knees and hands. I showed it to the press, but they do not publish it because media has been sold," Phaldesai said, adding that media in Goa was "corrupt and operated like a syndicate".