Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, who has faced criticism in the media for his comments on a wide range of issues, on Saturday said he would not speak to the media for six months.

Parrikar, who has been camped in Goa for the last three days, attended a government function in Mandur village, 15 km from Panaji, where he was asked to comment on a whole range of issues, including target killings in Kashmir’s Sopore town and the Rafale deal.

The former Goa chief minister, who rarely shies away from offering a comment to the media, said he was not going to “speak to the media for six months”.

However, Parrikar during his speech made a fleeting reference to alleged attempts by the media to excessively scrutinise the contents of his speech.

“I will not speak much. Because if I speak, people start looking for things (in it),” Parrikar added.

Parrikar’s recent comments like “You have to neutralise terrorist through terrorist only” were criticised by the media.