Kerala CM cancels customary press briefing, says he is no PRO

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has sharply reacted to the criticism that he was imitating Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his attitudes towards media. 

 

  "Chief Minister need not take up the job of a Public Relations Officer," Vijayan said on Thursday in Kerala Assembly while replying to discussions on Governor's address . "It is a bad practice to brief the press after each cabinet meeting. It is the work of the Public Relations Department," the Chief Minister clarified. 

 

Vijayan also said that he had no enmity towards the media and not averse to meeting journalists. There is no need to pass opinion on every issue. But will meet the media when necessary, he said.
 

Also read: Dalit sisters' imprisonment: Opposition cries 'political intolerance' by CPM in Kerala
 

Criticising the Chief Minister's response to the media persons when they raised the imprisonment of two Dalit women at Thalassery on charges of attacking a CPM office, Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala had alleged that Vijayan was imitating Modi's policy of keeping the media away.

Also read: Kerala CM attempts to downplay Dalit sisters' arrest

The Opposition also questioned Vijayan's decision to cancel the regular media briefing after every cabinet meeting. The Chief Ministers of Kerala used to hold an official press meet after the regular cabinet meeting on every Wednesday. Though Vijayan met media after the first cabinet meeting, he stopped the practice last week.