The majority of the media in the country were singing paeans to those in power, former chief minister A.K. Antony has said.
Speaking after presenting the C.P. Mammu Endowment Prize to critic M.K. Sanoo here on Tuesday, Mr. Antony said the number of media houses that stood against corruption, injustice, and caste discrimination had dwindled. They often adopted a partisan attitude too, he said.
The constitutional values of fundamental rights, civic rights and democracy were under siege.
The media had a crucial role in protecting them, he said.
The prize was instituted by Kerala History Association.
K.L. Mohana Varma presided. K.V. Thomas, MP, M.M. Lawrence, T.P.M. Ibrahim Khan and P.A. Mehaboob attended.
Later, inaugurating the 30th death anniversary meeting of Alexander Parambithara, a former Speaker of the Kerala Legislative Assembly, Mr. Antony said credibility of the political leadership in the country was fast eroding.
A dangerous trend of political leaders banking on casteist and capitalist forces for winning public acceptance had emerged, he added.
Bishop Alex Vadakkumthala, Kochi Corporation Mayor Soumini Jain, Corporation councillor David Parambithara, and veteran journalist K.G. Mathai attended.