Dravidianist and Congress mouthpiece The News Minute had Newslaundry have been indulging in anti-national narratives for quite some time. This is evident from their reporting, the news they select to highlight, and the groups they are associated with. In 2023, the duo joined hands to conduct an event called “Cutting South“. As seditious as it may sound, the event itself was questionable. If we dig a little bit into the event and its sponsors, alarming details come to the fore, especially in light of the USAID revelations.
The Canadian Connection: A Smoking Gun Contract
At the heart of the scandal is a contract dated 28 February 2023, signed between the Canadian High Commission (Colin Shonk, Counsellor and Head of the Advocacy Program at the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi) and three media entities: Confluence Media, The News Minute (Spunklane Media), and Newslaundry. The agreement, obtained through RTI filings, designates these outlets as “Producers” of the “Cutting South” event held on March 25-26, 2023, at Kochi’s Bolgatty Palace.
Key clauses reveal:
- Canada contributed CAD 4,000 (₹2.4 lakh) directly to organizers
- Mandated inclusion of a panel on “gender/diversity/climate“ with a Canadian High Commission speaker
It is alleged that the organizers of the Cutting South event received the sponsorship from Canada without obtaining permission from India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
The Cutting South conclave, held in Kochi in March 2023, was primarily sponsored by the Kerala Media Academy, a media institution under the Government of Kerala. While the Kerala Media Academy claimed that ₹44 lakh had been spent on the programme, questions remain about how The News Minute and News Laundry independently entered into an agreement with the Canadian High Commission.
Under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), approval from the Ministry of External Affairs is mandatory before accepting foreign funds. The Union Government has the authority to take action against institutions that receive such funds without adhering to legal protocols. Since Narendra Modi’s government came to power in 2014, FCRA regulations have been tightened, leading to the cancellation of registrations for several organizations found to be receiving foreign funds unlawfully.
The Paper Trail Of Public Funds
Perhaps the most troubling aspect of this investigation is how The News Minute and Newslaundry, along with their partners, managed to secure substantial public funding for their event while maintaining editorial control.
The invitation letter sent to Kerala’s top officials on 12 February 2023, strategically positioned the Kerala Media Academy – an autonomous institution under the Government of Kerala – as merely a “knowledge partner.” Yet RTI responses reveal the Academy spent a staggering ₹44,95,000 (approximately $60,000) of public funds on the event.
The financial relationship appears deliberately obscured. When initially questioned about the expenditure through an RTI request in May 2023, the Academy provided an evasive response, claiming “the process of adjusting the amount of expenses…has not been completed.” Only a year later, in May 2024, did they finally disclose the full financial details.
Meanwhile, The News Minute and Newslaundry, along with Confluence Media, maintained complete “creative and programming control” over the event, as stipulated in their agreement with the Canadian sponsor. This meant that while taxpayer money funded the bulk of the event, these private media entities retained decision-making authority over its content and messaging.
The detailed expense breakdown reveals:
- ₹8,93,869 for flight tickets
- ₹5,80,660 for accommodation
- ₹4,05,591 for food expenses
- ₹7,48,356 for LED wall, light & sound
- ₹5,21,580 for decoration, publicity & hall arrangement
The Cutting South event was inaugurated virtually by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Other key attendees included Minister P. Rajeev, who was the Chief Guest, and Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan from the Congress party, who attended as a Special Guest. Kerala Media Academy Chairman R.S. Babu presided over the event. In his virtual address, CM Vijayan claimed that the very existence of the media was under threat.
The invitation letter reveals a deliberate strategy to secure this political protection: “We would also have active participation from representatives from across the entire political spectrum of India.” By framing the event as politically inclusive, the organizers tried to effectively neutralize potential criticism from either the ruling coalition or the opposition.
The Media Ecosystem: Creating Institutional Legitimacy
The News Minute and Newslaundry didn’t operate in isolation. They cultivated institutional legitimacy through partnerships with established media bodies like the Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ).
The RTI response dated 17 May 2023, confirms this relationship, stating: “The Kerala Media Academy International Journalism Festival and Photo Festival was organized by KUWJ, NewsLaundry, The News Minute, and Confluence Media at the Town Hall, Ernakulam from 24th to 26th March 2023.”
At the heart of this controversy lies an extraordinary contradiction. Official documents, including invitation letters and a legally binding sponsorship agreement, explicitly name the event as “Cutting South.” Yet when questioned about it over a year later, the government-funded Kerala Media Academy categorically denied ever organizing or participating in any such event.
The evidence is unambiguous. An invitation letter dated 12 February 2023, addressed to Kerala’s Chief Secretary Sri V.P. Joy, clearly states: “Together with Newslaundry and The News Minute we at Confluence Media, are organizing Cutting South, a celebration of journalism that will bring together leading news professionals from across the world to Kerala. Kerala Media Academy is the knowledge partner for the event.”
This isn’t just some passing reference. Yet in an official explanation dated 13 August 2024, the Kerala Media Academy brazenly claims: “The Media Academy has not organized an event called Cutting South or participated in any such event.” Instead, they insist they organized an “International Journalism Festival & Photo Festival” on the exact same dates.
By partnering with KUWJ, The News Minute and Newslaundry gained additional credibility and access to established media networks in Kerala. The Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ), a collaborator in the event, has previously defended Siddique Kappan, a journalist arrested under UAPA for allegedly inciting unrest. This association suggests a troubling alignment with groups that challenge India’s legal and constitutional framework. This partnership strategy helped transform what might otherwise have been seen as an event organized by digital media platforms into something with institutional backing from traditional journalism organizations.
It is noteworthy that the then governor’s office issued a statement that they were not aware of such an event and did not consent to participate.
The statement read, “It is noted that one organization namely “Cutting South”, not known to the Hon’ble Governor, is organizing a function for the celebration/felicitation of Neither Raj some important persons at Cochin on March 25, 2023. Neither Raj Bhavan, nor Hon’ble Governor has given consent for the participation in the programme. It is, therefore, informed that such an organization is strange to Hon’ble Governor and hence, in no way connected with His Excellency.”
Even before its launch, the Cutting South conclave had sparked controversy. Allegations emerged that the event was promoting the idea that southern states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana should break away from India Initially, the organizers sought to involve high-profile personalities in the program, but once the separatist agenda was exposed, many withdrew. Amid rising controversy, the Kerala Media Academy attempted to rebrand the event as the Global Media Summit to deflect criticism.
During his speech, CM Pinarayi Vijayan referred to the program as Global South rather than Cutting South, a change observers believe was influenced by intelligence reports warning about the nature of the event.
Before “Speaking Truth To Power”, How About Being Truthful First?
The Cutting South event, backed by The News Minute and Newslaundry, exposes a disturbing mix of foreign influence, media manipulation, and political deception. Their secret deal with the Canadian High Commission, allegedly without FCRA approval, and the ₹44 lakh in taxpayer money funneled through the Kerala Media Academy, raise serious red flags. Despite public funding, these media outlets retained full control over the event’s agenda, shaping discussions that many believe carried a divisive, separatist undertone. The Kerala Media Academy’s flip-flop—first funding the event, then denying any role—only adds to the suspicion. The last-minute rebranding from Cutting South to Global South, along with intelligence warnings, suggests an attempt to cover up the event’s true intent after facing public scrutiny.
This isn’t just about a shady media conclave—it’s about the bigger problem of journalists masquerading as neutral voices while pushing hidden agendas. The Modi government’s crackdown on FCRA violations has already exposed many such cases, and The News Minute and Newslaundry shouldn’t be exceptions if they broke the law. What’s equally concerning is the mainstream media’s silence—why aren’t they questioning this? The ones who claim to fight for press freedom and democracy seem suspiciously quiet when their own are in the hot seat. This entire episode serves as a stark reminder that not all journalists are independent truth-seekers—some are just well-funded mouthpieces for foreign interests, selling narratives to the highest bidder.
Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.