K Satchidanandan slams media for ‘cherry picking’ comments, says ‘no more political interviews’

Thiruvananthapuram: Poet and Kerala Sahitya Akademi president K Satchidanandan said that his statements in an interview with a newspaper were cherry picked by the media to create a controversy.

The writer had stated in the interview that comrades (of the LDF government in Kerala) should pray that they do not come to power next time as it would pave the way for the end of the party in the state and upheld West Bengal as an example of this. 

In his latest Facebook post, he said that what he said in a light hearted manner has been made into a statement.

Our media ethics are strange. I merely pointed out some of the limitations of the present left government. Edited clips of this conversation were posted on YouTube and also appeared in the newspaper (The New Indian Express). Others picked up some lines that they wanted from the published interview, he wrote.

“I came to Kerala seeking more freedom. But now I realise that the black-or-white politics here is hindering it,” he stated.

Satchidanandan further added that he would not appear for political interviews anymore and that he would speak his mind in the form of speeches and articles that are under his control.