Indian Government Wants More Restrictions on Media
The Indian government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has placed communication as a critical component in the governance of the nation.
Although the Indian media is largely under the control of the Indian government, the ruling BJP regime wants more restrictions on media freedom.
India’s Union Minister of Information & Broadcasting M. Venkaiah Naidu has stressed the need for self-regulation and reasonable restrictions on media. This, he said, is required to maintain public order and ensure integrity and sovereignty of the country.
He spoke on various aspects of functioning of the media after inaugurating a two-day ‘Regional Editors Conference’ in Chennai today.
Naidu said that there is a need to ensure balance between freedom of expression and the genuine need for reasonable restrictions to ensure that there is no ‘divisive communication’ given the social, cultural and economic diversity in the country.
[आओ मिल कर करें एक नये और समृद्ध भारत का निर्माण]
Self-regulation by media could be useful in this regard, he said. The growing compulsion of ‘instant communication’ should not lead media away from truthful reporting, the Minister stressed.
He urged the media to effectively play out its role as a partner in the progress of the nation by empowering the citizens with required information that would give them a voice.
Naidu noted that success of developmental programmes of central and state governments depend on mass mobilization of people in which the media has an important role to play.
“Hence, the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has placed communication as a critical component in the governance of the nation,” said Naidu.
He said that human rights are meant for human beings and not for terrorists. “One should not identify those imprisoned by their caste or religion. Illegal detention is not correct. One can seek fast-track adjudication but not on the basis of caste or religion. Media should guard itself while reporting on such demands and events,” Naidu advised.
[ UN Human Rights Office Denied Access to Kashmir ]
The two-day Regional Editors conference organized by the Press Information Bureau is aimed at sharing with the senior journalists of the southern states and union territories, the perspectives of and performance under new initiatives of the Government of India.
About 100 media persons are attending the conference.
Photo courtesy: Press Information Bureau
