Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said right across the spectrum there is a "serious undermining" of every autonomous institution and it seems the government has only the "loyalty" criterion before appointing individuals to head them.

In an interaction at Press Club here on 'The need for an independent media as a vital link for democracy', Tharoor said intimidation of the press was a legitimate issue, and if he has a voice in the party manifesto, he would certainly suggest that this should be made an issue and the party would stand for guaranteeing the freedom of press and non-interference.