Congress rejects media's inference about PMO's letter to editors

New Delhi, Aug 30 (UNI) The Congress today pleaded ignorance about any letter written by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) to editors about what it expects of the journalists covering the PMO, but said that the inference drawn by the journalists from it was unfounded.

Congress Spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told reporters here he was not aware of any such advisory sent by Dr Sanjaya Baru, Media Adviser to the PM, to the editors of the newspapers and news agencies.

"I will react officially to it shortly (after going through the letter)," he said.

"However, rest assured your inferences are not true," Mr Singhvi said when his attention was drawn by journalists to the reported threat contained in the letter to the editors for stripping the journalists covering the PMO of their PIB Accredition Card if their conduct was found objectionable.

When the agitated journalists asked the spokesman whether it was the PMO who would determine as to who would cover the PMO and in what manner, Mr Singhvi said the letter could be related to security issues at the PMO and the PM's residence.

He asserted that the Congress had always been for the dignity and freedom of the Press.

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