KOZHIKODE: The compensation given for the land acquired for the K-Rail project is double the market price. The government is ready to give even more, said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

The media should think about the future of the state. Do not give in to vested interests. The tendency to inflate small incidents is increasing. The media should think themselves whether this is right or not?, the chief minister said in his inaugural address at the golden jubilee celebrations of Kozhikode Press Club.

Last week, a woman came along with a baby for the strike. When police took action in the matter, the media glorified it. Should one bring their child to a strike? Gone are the days when people completely believed whatever the media said. If people believed it, then I wouldn’t be sitting here right now.

There was a dispute over acquiring land for the development of national highway. Finally, we met Gadkari. He listened to the matter. If land had been acquired earlier, then national highway would have come sooner. Each project should be implemented on time. A project’s implementation cannot be halted just because one group opposes it, he said.