Prime Minister Narendra said on Saturday that while criticism from media helped the Government prevent its mistakes, “proper criticism does not happen today and allegations have replaced criticism”.
Speaking at the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of the Marathi newspaper Pudhari at Kolhapur in western Maharashtra, the Prime Minister said that people were looking at media to provide "good news and truthful news".
“The credibility that media enjoys today also enjoins upon them an immense responsibility. Criticism helps prevent mistakes, and helps truth to be brought out properly. However, proper criticism does not happen today that allegations have replaced criticism,” Modi said.
Stating that Pudhari was one of the newspapers that had discharged its responsibility, the Prime Minister said, “Criticism requires a thorough study, and has become a casualty of the fast-moving modern times. Weakness of criticism, and an excess of allegations would weaken democracy. Therefore, the need of the hour was healthy criticism, not allegations”.
The Prime Minister, who inaugurated the new premises of Pudhari, appreciated the newspaper’s chairman Pratapsinh Jadhav for raising issues of Kolhapur. Newspapers like Pudhari are an example of overcoming obstacles. He said they had persevered and won against all odds during the freedom struggle.
The Prime Minister unveiled a statue of the founder of Pudhari - GG Jadhav and released two books - Marmabedh and Sinhayan. Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari and Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu were among those present on the occasion.