Palakkad: Even as criticism mounted from own party members and leaders, CPM State Committee member N N Krishnadas has decided to stand firm on his comments about journalists where he referred to media person as ‘Dogs’.
On Friday when visual media journalists questioned him about the discord between CPM area committee member and former municipal council standing committee chairman Abdul Shukkoor and certain party leaders, Krishnadas had said that ‘Media has been waiting outside like dog’s outside a butcher shop and I cant respond if they bring mikes like vultures”. The comment had caused embarrassment for the CPM leadership who themselves found hard to defend the statement. AK Balan, a senior CPM leader indirectly endorsed the statement while all other senior senior CPM leaders including CPM state secretary MV Govindan downplayed the statements and said that such comments should have been avoided.
“I thought carefully and spoke with the best intentions. A large crowd had gathered at Shukkoor’s residence, causing inconvenience. The media’s goal wasn’t to report but to twist the narrative toward the right-wing. I stand by what I said with the best intentions,” Krishnadas stated.
The incident took place on Friday at Palakkad during the reconciliation efforts by CPM leadership where CPM rebel leader Abdul Shukkoor who decided to remain in the party after initially announcing his resignation. Shukkoor attended a party convention alongside Krishnadas on Friday. It was in response to questions about this that Krishnadas directed disparaging comments at journalists.
“The media has been waiting around since morning like dogs outside a butcher shop. I can’t respond if they bring mics like vultures,” an agitated Krishnadas said. He continued this aggressive stance both at the CPM district committee office and later at the LDF election convention in the evening. Meanwhile, the insensitive comments were widely criticised by the opposition who demanded a public apology from the senior CPI(M) leader.
