Prime Minister Narendra Modi said here on Tuesday that the work of newspapers and media was to disseminate news and educate the public, and if there were some shortcomings in the society and the Government, then it was their responsibility to bring them to the fore.
Participating in the 200th anniversary of historic newspaper Mumbai Samachar, Modi said: “As much as the media has the right to criticize, it also has an equally important responsibility to bring positive news to the fore”.
Modi said that the country had a rich tradition that was carried forward through the medium of debates and discussions. “For thousands of years, we have conducted healthy debate, healthy criticism and right reasoning as a part of the social system. We have open and healthy discussions on very difficult social topics. This has been the practice of India, which we have to strengthen”, he said.
The Prime Minister said the way journalists worked like karmayogis in the interest of the nation during the Corona period in the last two years, will be remembered forever. The positive contribution of India's media helped India a lot in dealing with this biggest crisis of 100 years. He also lauded the media's role in promoting initiatives like digital payment and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. Wishing all the readers, journalists and staff of Mumbai Samachar on the 200th anniversary of this historic newspaper, Modi lauded the fact that in these two centuries, the lives of many generations, and their concerns have been given voice by Mumbai Samachar.
“Mumbai Samachar also gave voice to the freedom movement and then also took 75 years of independent India to readers of all ages. The medium of language was definitely Gujarati, but the concern was national,” he said.
The Prime Minister mentioned that even Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel used to quote Mumbai Samachar and noted the happy coincidence of this anniversary falling in the 75th year of India’s independence.
“Therefore, on this occasion of today, we are not only celebrating the high standards of journalism of India and journalism related to the concern of patriotism, but this event is also adding to the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav”.
The Prime Minister also remembered the glorious contribution of journalism in the freedom struggle and re-establishment of democracy after the emergency period,