Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday said his seat is not vacant, yet journalists report that a change of guard is in the offing in the state.
Referring to media reports that his deputy DK Shivakumar would replace him soon, Siddaramaiah lashed out at “speculative journalism”.
Speaking at the Press Club of Bangalore (PCB) Award-2024, the CM said, “We don't have any confusion among us but journalists still write that 'CM will be changed'. My seat is not vacant but they say still that the CM will be changed.”
He said reports are based on assumptions, although such things would not have happened.
“When people gather for dinner, the news becomes based on speculation that such discussions would have taken place even if we had discussed something else and not what is reported there,” Siddaramaiah said.
He was referring to the dinner meetings organized by ministers, which became a major talking point in the corridors of power.
The CM asked journalists to keep society and conscience in mind while reporting.
“Nowadays, speculative journalism is taking center stage. It is a dangerous trend. You have to verify whether it is true or false. In any case, your reports should be closer to the truth,” he said.
Siddaramaiah emphasized on healthy criticism and said it helps people improve and take corrective action.
Noting that journalism is a sacred profession, he called on journalists to become the voice of the people instead of promoting superstition.
In this regard, he recalled an incident that had taken place during his first term as CM from 2013 to 2018. A news channel had a panel discussion of astrologers in 2016 on the possible consequences after a crow sat on the glass of his car. “Two astrologers were brought to the TV studio for panel discussion. One of them said that I would not be able to present the budget, while the other said that I would resign soon after presenting the budget, but I continued despite that. Such superstition should not be encouraged,” he said.
He wondered whether promoting such superstitions would bring about a change in society or increase the credibility of journalists.
“People have a lot of confidence in you, and you have to keep that. You are the fourth pillar of democracy. People look up to you to see how the three pillars of democracy work,” Siddaramaiah said.
Karnataka Commerce and Industry Minister MB Patil received the PBC Man of the Year Award, while Women and Child Welfare Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar, Energy Minister KJ George and Food and Civil Supplies Minister KH Muniyappa received the PCB Special Award.
