Facing flak for "insulting" the media by his remarks over the Youth Congress agitation, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan today said he has never defamed the entire media any time.
"I have never insulted the entire media community at any time. Not even when I was severely attacked by media," he told reporters at a press conference here.
His made the remarks when asked about the charge he made in the Assembly yesterday that those who waved black flags against him during the Youth Congress protest, were "hired by TV channels".
"What I said was my feeling of the situation. When I was going out of the secretariat, two TV camera men came running from left side and I also saw two youths waving flags on the right side of the road. How can an organisation like YC could organise a protest with two youths?" Vijayan said.
"Not only that what I said was due to my previous experience with media... However, I am getting good support from you (media) now," he said.
The chief minister also said some people from TV channels had indulged in such acts earlier and that was why he got the feeling that "this is also like that one".
When asked whether a Chief Minister should make such statements without facts, Vijayan maintained that what he said was his feelings and as the Congress had admitted that the two youths who waved black flags were their activists, the matter should end there.
Criticising his statement on the media, Congress had stated that such remarks should not have been made by a person holding a high post.
Kerala Union of Working Journalists had also taken strong exception to the controversial statement of Vijayan and said the remark was "unfortunate" and "imaginary".
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