Information & Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar on Saturday said he is ‘philosphically’ and ‘ideologically’ in favour of doing away with the Ministry as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mantra of ‘less Government, more governance.’
Javadekar was responding to a question during a television news channel programme if India needed such a Ministry when many major democracies do not have such a Ministry.“I think you are giving a good line for us. But ultimately, when our PM Modi says that more governance and less Government, so you are actually contributing to the idea of less Government and more governance. That’s our focus, but to achieve that end you have to follow a process,” Javadekar replied.
He was speaking to Karan Thapar for Headlines Today’s programme Nothing But The Truth. Thapar asked Javadekar if he meant that three or four years down the line, he would like to ensure that this (I&B) Ministry ceases to exist.“Philosphically or ideologically, I’ll be willing to do that,” he said and added that in the coming years words like ‘Government-run’, ‘Government-controlled’ or ‘Government intervention’ will be heard less.
Thapar replied in the affirmative when asked whether Modi was also philosophically and ideologically in agreement with his line of thinking.
Javadekar also suggested he was open to appointment of professional editors for public broadcasters Doordarshan and AIR. The Minister said that as far as the public broadcaster is concerned, there are various models like the BBC and others available which would be studied. Javadekar said he was not in favour of a model where the public broadcaster is accountable to the Minister ‘only’.
“Today, it is like this that as if it is a Government fiefdom. I don’t want to make this as a Government fiefdom but really a competitive market channel,” he said.On a question on FDI in media, Javadekar said he was open to discussion with stakeholders. He, however, added he shared the view that the news media is sensitive and allowing more FDI should be thought about very carefully.
Javadekar said he felt that private radio channels could be allowed news broadcasts though they could be asked to use AIR bulletins or news provided by credible news agencies.