Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while paying rich tributes to the role played by newspapers in the country in sustaining democracy and transparency, reminded journalists that editorial freedom should be used wisely in public interest. “Freedom to write does not include the freedom to be factually incorrect.
Mahatma Gandhi said that the Press is called the Fourth Estate. It is definitely a power but to misuse that power is crime,” the Prime Minister reminded the media fraternity. The Prime Minister was inaugurating the platinum jubilee (75th anniversary ) celebrations of Tamil daily Dina Thanthi at Chennai on Monday. “I was told that the word Din Thanthi means daily telegram. Earlier we had telegrams brought to as by the department of posts. This traditional way of telegrams being delivered to us by the postmen has gone out of existence. But I would like to see this telegram (Dina Thanthi) continue to grow day by day,” said Prime Minister Modi. The Prime Minister also reminded the media industry and journalists about the power and influence can be wielded by the newspapers. “We do have a number of 24X7 television news channels providing us with round-the-clock news. But still we love to wake up every morning to a cup of coffee on one hand and the morning newspaper on the other hand. Newspapers are so powerful that they could mould our way of thinking,” he said.
While complimenting the Indian newspapers for the good work being done by them, the Prime Minister reminded the journalists about the importance of their profession. “Today every citizen analyses and attempts to verify the news that comes to him through multiple sources. Media must make an extra effort to maintain credibility. Healthy competition among credible platforms is also good for the health of our democracy,” he said.
The Prime Minister said the media has as much social accountability as the elected Government or the judiciary. “Even though media may be owned by private individuals, it serves a public purpose. It is an instrument to produce reform through peace rather than by force,” said Modi. He also paid rich tributes to late SP Adithanar, the founder of Dina Thanthi. “The remarkable growth of Dina Thanthi is because of the efforts of SP Adithanar who succeeded in producing a newspaper which uses simple language and an easy to understand narrative,” said the Prime Minister.
He also pointed out that it was vernacular newspapers like Sambad Kaumudi edited by Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Kesari edited by lok Manya Bala Gangadhara Tilak and Navajeevan edited by Mahatma Gandhi which inspired Indian freedom struggle.,” The British were so worried about the role vernacular newspapers played and that was why they brought the Vernacular Newspaper and Press Act 1878. The vernacular press could play a major role in create a mass awakening to create responsible citizens in the country,” said Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister began his speech by expressing his condolences to the 12 persons who lost their lives in the recent rains and floods in Tamil Nadu. He said the Union Government would extend all possible support to the State. He also expressed his condolences over the demise of R Mohanan, a journalist who breathed his last on Sunday.