Media community should provide full support to make country developed by 2047: PM Modi

STC NEWS DESK
SRINAGAR, NOVEMBER 12 (STC): Appreciating the important role of the media in keeping the country’s democracy vibrant, strong and stable, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the expression of different ideas, opinions and points of view in the country is the beauty of the democratic system and the Indian media is playing an important role in maintaining this diversity.
The Prime Minister was addressing journalists during the Diwali Milan function held at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) headquarters in New Delhi. He extended Diwali greetings to the journalist community and mentioned his decades-long relationship with the media, past memories and the changes coming in the field of journalism.
In his address, the Prime Minister said that he has seen the media develop from the era of press releases to Instagram reels and digital platforms. He recalled that in the early 1990s, when he was entrusted with the responsibility of media arrangements across the country during two major party tours, he had to find a fax machine to send press releases.
He said that at that time, the party office was located on Ashoka Road and such events were held with journalists on the occasion of Diwali. At these events, his responsibility was limited to setting up chairs for the journalists and welcoming them.
Modi said that at that time there were fewer cameras in the media, but the same warmth and sincerity was present in the relationship between journalists and political workers that is felt even today.
The Prime Minister narrated an interesting incident and said that in 2001, when he was to be made the Chief Minister of Gujarat, very few senior party leaders were aware of the decision, but a group of journalists had already received the news.
The PM recalled with a smile that one day a group of women journalists entered his room and started demanding sweets from him. According to Modi, the journalists addressed him and said that he was going to become the Chief Minister of Gujarat, so he should be fed sweets.
The Prime Minister said that when he expressed ignorance about this news, the journalists replied that they knew everything and were hiding the truth. Recalling the incident, Modi said that the information provided by the journalists turned out to be correct, although very few people knew about the decision at that time.
He added that many journalists attended his swearing-in ceremony as the Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2001 at their own expense and under personal arrangements. They did not come there just for reporting but out of love and sincerity.
The Prime Minister said that over time, technology has brought about extraordinary changes in the media sector. Earlier, arranging big OB Vans was a big challenge, but today a mobile phone is playing the role of an OB Van. Now everyone has their own platform, their own channel and their own podcast.
He said that some tasks have become easier for traditional media outlets, but with this, new challenges have also emerged.
Earlier, experts were found in every street and neighborhood regarding cricket, who would give their opinion on Sachin Tendulkar’s game, but now experts commenting on every news are available everywhere. Modi said that the emergence of different opinions and views in the country is a sign of the strength of democracy. He said that as many people as there are, there are as many opinions and points of view, and this diversity keeps Indian democracy vibrant and alive.
The role of Indian media is very important in this whole process. The Prime Minister, while paying tribute to the professional dedication and sacrifices of journalists working in the field, said that journalists fulfill their responsibilities even in such situations when ordinary people move away from the affected areas to save their lives. He said that whether there is an accident, earthquake or flood disasters, in such difficult situations, field reporters reach the scene without caring for their lives so that accurate information can be conveyed to the public.
They discharge their professional responsibilities by putting aside the concerns of their families and personal problems. Modi said that this dedication and sacrifice of journalists is commendable and he has always appreciated this hard work of the journalist community.
The Prime Minister said that the entire life of journalists revolves around deadlines and they work continuously to deliver news to the public with punctuality. He appealed to the media community to provide their full support in achieving the government’s goal of making India a developed country by 2047.

(Straight Talk Communications)