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PM Modi lectures media on editorial freedom, maintaining credibility

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9 years ago

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing an event at Madras University Centenary Auditorium in Chennai to mark the Platinum Jubilee of Tamil newspaper Daily Thanthi. Photo credit: PIB

At the 75th anniversary celebrations of Tamil newspaper Daily Thanthi, Prime Minister says editorial freedom must be used wisely, in public interest

At a time when the Indian media – print, television or the new, social media – have all come under sharp public scrutiny and chastised for either turning into mouthpieces of the government in power or of parties in the Opposition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Monday, laid out a charter of sorts for media organisations to follow.

Addressing the 75th anniversary celebrations of Tamil newspaper Daily Thanthi at the Madras University Centenary Auditorium in Chennai, Modi – who has himself drawn flak for not entertaining questions and scrutiny by the press ever since he became Prime Minister – lectured on the need for editorial freedom to be “used wisely, in public interest”.

The Prime Minister asserted: “It is the editors who… decide what should be given space on the first page, what should be given more space and what should be ignored…Editorial freedom must be used wisely, in public interest. Equally so, the freedom to write, and to decide what is to be written, does not include the freedom to be ‘less than accurate’ or ‘factually incorrect’.”

Modi’s comments come at a time when his party’s government in Rajasthan, led by chief minister Vasundhara Raje, if in the eye of a political storm for piloting a Bill that seeks to muzzle the press and restrain it from reporting on allegations of corruption and financial impropriety by former and serving bureaucrats, judicial officers, etc. until such a time when the government grants sanction to agencies concerned to investigate such allegations.

In a remarkable coincidence, Modi’s comments on how the media should function and the need for the press to maintain its credibility came on a day when The Indian Express published a series of articles, accessed through a global network of journalists under the overarching Paradise Papers expose, which show how over 700 Indians, including BJP and Congress leaders, had purportedly invested their undeclared money in foreign tax havens or were associated with shell companies that operated bank accounts in such countries.

Advising the media on its “social accountability” and the need to be “above board”, Modi said: “Media must make an extra effort, to maintain credibility.”

The Prime Minister also urged the media to introspect, saying: “I firmly believe that reform in the media, whenever required, can only come from within, through introspection.”

The Prime Minister, whose engagements with the press ever since he assumed the high office have been woefully few and who, in his earlier avatar as the chief minister of Gujarat was famous for evading questions on the riots that led to the killing of thousands of Muslims in his state in 2002, also advised the media to speak more of the common citizens and not about “just us politicians”.

“I observe that a lot of the media discourse today revolves around politics. It is only fair that politics be discussed at length, in a democracy. However, India is more than just us politicians. It is the 125 crore Indians, which make India what it is. I would be happy to see media focus a lot more, on their stories, and their achievements,” Modi said.

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West Bengal Governor dissolves Assembly amid political transition 

Governor R N Ravi dissolved the West Bengal Assembly after the 2026 poll results, with the BJP securing a majority in the state elections.

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2 hours ago

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May 7, 2026

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The West Bengal Legislative Assembly was dissolved following the conclusion of the 2026 Assembly elections, in which the Bharatiya Janata Party secured a clear majority in the state.

Governor R N Ravi issued the order dissolving the Assembly as the state prepared for the transition of power after the election results. According to reports, the BJP won 207 seats in the 294-member Assembly, while the Trinamool Congress secured 80 seats.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee questioned the election outcome and alleged irregularities in the poll process, claiming the mandate had been “looted”.

The dissolution came as the tenure of the existing Assembly ended on May 7, 2026. The development has sparked political discussions over the formation of the next government in the state.

Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee held a meeting with newly elected Trinamool Congress MLAs in Kolkata and reportedly raised concerns over internal sabotage during the elections.

The BJP is expected to begin the formal process of government formation in West Bengal after its decisive victory in the Assembly polls.

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Eknath Shinde’s helicopter returns to Mumbai mid-flight due to bad weather

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s helicopter was forced to return to Mumbai after the pilot detected approaching storm conditions during a flight to Thane district.

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2 hours ago

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May 7, 2026

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Eknath_shinde (1)

A helicopter carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was forced to return to Mumbai on Thursday after encountering adverse weather conditions during a flight to Thane district.

According to officials, Shinde had departed from Mahalaxmi Racecourse in south Mumbai around 3.30 pm and was travelling to Murbad in Thane district to attend a wedding function related to a party worker’s family.

The helicopter reportedly reached the Airoli area in Navi Mumbai when the pilot noticed an approaching storm and informed the deputy chief minister about the deteriorating weather conditions. Following the alert, the flight was turned back as a precautionary measure.

The helicopter later landed safely at the Pawan Hans facility in Juhu, Mumbai. Officials said Shinde was accompanied by members of his staff, including personal assistant Prabhakar Kale, special executive officer Balsingh Rajput and media adviser Vinay Patrdukar.

The incident comes amid changing weather conditions and storm activity reported in parts of Maharashtra in recent days.

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Nitish Kumar’s son Nishant among 32 inducted in Bihar cabinet expansion

Nishant Kumar entered the Bihar cabinet for the first time as 32 ministers from NDA allies took oath in a major expansion of the state government.

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6 hours ago

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May 7, 2026

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Bihar government cabinet

A major cabinet expansion took place in Bihar on Thursday, with 32 leaders from the ruling NDA alliance inducted into the state government. Among the prominent names was Nishant Kumar, son of former Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, who entered the cabinet for the first time.

The expansion included representatives from all major NDA allies in the state. According to reports, the BJP secured 15 ministerial berths, while JD(U) got 13 positions. Two ministers were inducted from Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), while Hindustani Awam Morcha and Rashtriya Lok Morcha received one berth each.

The oath-taking ceremony was held in Patna in the presence of senior NDA leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

Nishant Kumar’s induction comes weeks after he formally entered active politics. His entry into the Bihar cabinet is being viewed as a significant development for JD(U), which had long projected an anti-dynasty image under Nitish Kumar’s leadership.

The cabinet reshuffle follows Nitish Kumar’s move to the Rajya Sabha earlier this year and the formation of the government led by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary.

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