Keralam CM, Cabinet to skip press interaction at IIM Kozhikode citing tight schedule, security
Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan and his cabinet will skip press interactions at an IIM Kozhikode workshop, citing security and scheduling constraints. This decision follows recent tensions between the state government and local media outlets.
Why it matters
The incident highlights ongoing friction between political leadership and the press regarding media access and democratic accountability.
Citing tight schedules and security reasons, Keralam Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan and his Cabinet colleagues will not participate in press interactions or photo opportunities at the conclusion of the two-day leadership workshop at the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIMK) on Saturday afternoon.
This comes close on the heels of recent tension between the Chief Minister and journalists in the State over media access.
Apparently, the friction heightened after the Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) issued a statement criticising the practice of singling out or naming specific media outlets during press interactions, describing such approaches as objectionable in a democratic society.
However, the organisers at IIMK issued a statement clarifying that Mr. Satheesan and members of the Council of Ministers face an exceptionally tight schedule immediately following the conclusion of the ‘Reimagining Keralam’ programme, which began on Friday morning.
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