Media is "accuser, prosecutor and judge": Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

NEW DELHI: Sharply critical of the media for being "accuser, prosecutor and judge", Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday warned against creation of an atmosphere of cynicism in the country.

The Prime Minister began a 100-minute interaction with a group of editors here with his opening remarks which started with a comment that there was a growing perception in the media that the government was under siege and was not able to implement its agenda.

An atmosphere had been created in the country in which the media had become an "accuser, prosecutor and judge", he said, adding that no parliamentary democracy can function that way.

Obviously referring to media's coverage of recent scams, Singh said that sometimes the government did not know all the facts when taking a decision. Nevertheless, it had to take decisions.

Ex-post facto, whether it is the CAG, a Parliamentary Committee or any other body, they may have a lot more facts which were not available to those who took the decisions, he said.

If India "is besieged with constant sniping between the government and the opposition, or an atmosphere of cynicism is created allround, the growth impulses and entrepreneurial impulses of the people would not have full play," the Prime Minister said.

"That worries me the most," he told the group.