Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has dismissed the allegations regarding the “PR agency” controversy, stating that the government has not assigned any PR agency to work for it. He spoke to reporters after the cabinet meeting held in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday.

“I have never taken a position to denigrate a particular group or district in my life. You know that. Neither I nor the government has assigned any PR agency to prepare this interview,” he said.

“We know this young man (TD Subramanian), as he has been associated with the party for a long time. He is the son of TK Devakumar (former CPM MLA from Haripad). He communicated with the office regarding this interview, and since we know him, the office approved it. However, we have no idea how this controversial part got included in the interview. We have communicated our strong protest to the people concerned at ‘The Hindu,’ and they have published an apology in the most decent manner,” Pinarayi said.

“I have no personal connection with any PR agency. The government has also not assigned any PR agency to work for it. No agency has been working as part of the government system, either,” he emphasized.

“You (the media) are trying to use me as a tool in the battle between media houses. No matter how hard you try to damage my reputation, which you have been doing for many years, it will not succeed,” Pinarayi stated.

“Since the issue demands a much longer debate, I don’t want to get into the allegations raised by PV Anvar MLA. From the beginning, we knew where he was heading. Now, his intentions have become clear. As of now, I don’t want to discuss it. I dismiss his allegations with the contempt they deserve,” the CM concluded.