Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's media meet on Saturday focused on rebutting the media narrative regarding cost estimation and expenses related to Wayanad landslide relief measures. 

He claimed that there is an agenda behind the media's incorrect reporting of figures related to relief efforts in Wayanad. He stated that this is not merely a case of fake news or an issue of journalistic ethics. The real problem with fake news lies not in the lies themselves but in the agenda behind them, which is against the interests of the state and its people.

"Key leaders from the opposition have accused the state government of siphoning off relief funds in the name of the Wayanad disaster. This has led to widespread allegations on social media. The negative propaganda against Kerala has surged, crossing all limits. When falsehoods spread, the truth often struggles to keep pace, and this is evident here," he said.

"The government's detailed rebuttal to the initial fake news is intended to counter this narrative. The Chief Minister added that a large section of the public has been misled by the false story suggesting that Kerala is manipulating figures to unfairly gain central assistance," he noted.

The Chief Minister stated that the media narrative had a malicious intent of discouraging ordinary people from contributing to the relief fund. "This is not typical media activity; it is destructive journalism and constitutes a crime against society. There is a need for those involved to recognise this," he added.

He also elaborated on the facts and figures related to the Wayanad relief efforts.