Media has become corrupt, says Speaker

Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar said: "the internal democracy in political parties has died and this would be the beginning of the end of democracy".

Releasing journalist C M Ramachandra's book, 'Cockpit of India's Political Battles - Karnataka', the speaker reminisced the old times.

He recalled the 1971 elections in which the Indira Gandhi and Devraj Urs-led Congress secured 26 seats in Karnataka. He said the Union government led by prime minister Narendra Modi has used "war and soldiers" to gain mileage during the election.

"There are no protests against crude oil price hike or the falling value of the rupee... In government offices, the bribe is needed even to get a death certificate," he said, ruing the absence of the real issues in political debates.

He said the media has become sycophantic and corrupt instead of playing the role of the watchdog. Media has lost its credibility, he added.

The newly released book which talks about the history of politics, the emergence of new parties, conflicts and controversies among the members of political parties tries to portray how and why Karnataka becomes the cockpit of Indian political battles.