http://www.gulf-news.com/world/India/10110719.html
Published: 13/03/2007 12:00 AM (UAE) Some Kerala journalists 'on CIA payroll' IANS Thiruvananthapuram: There are allegations that a "media syndicate" in Kerala receives money from the CIA of the US, Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan told the state assembly yesterday. "The allegation about the presence of a media syndicate [funded by the CIA] has come to notice," Achuthanandan said in written reply to a question by senior Congress leader Aryadan Mohammad. Mohammad had asked whether Achuthanandan was aware of the operation of a media syndicate in Kerala that was getting financial aid from the CIA. About an inquiry into matter by the state government, the chief minister said he could not divulge in details as they are confidential and making them public would affect international relations. In an interview to a TV channel recently, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) state secretary Pinnarayi Vijayan had said that the "media syndicate" involves some journalists associated with a media union here. Vijayan has been critical of a section of the media ever since the February 2005 party conference, accusing media of trying to create fissures in the CPM, which leads the ruling coalition of the Left Democratic Front (LDF).
