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PM Modi lectures media on editorial freedom, maintaining credibility

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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 Modion 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.

2024 Lok Sabha Elections

Rahul Gandhi says BJP will not get more than 150 seats in Lok Sabha elections

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said these BJP people are saying that they will secure this many or that many seats and but he wanted to make it clear that BJP will not get more than 150 seats.

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With completion of the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections yesterday, the stage is set for the 2nd phase of the Lok Sabha elections, which has lead the political parties to intensify and accelerate campaigning. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi too, with his eyes set on the 2nd phase was addressing a public rally at Bihar’s Bhagalpur on Saturday.

Addressing the rally, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and said these BJP people are saying that they will secure this many or that many seats and but he wanted to make it clear that BJP will not get more than 150 seats.

Rahul Gandhi expressed his confidence that the I.N.D.I.A. Bloc will emerge victorious in the Lok Sabha elections. He also stressed on the party’s vision for INDIA once elected to power. Rahul Gandhi said, As soon as the INDIA alliance government comes, they will end the Agniveer scheme. He said India does not need two types of martyrs and added that everyone should get pension.

Gandhi further added that they will change GST and there will be one tax, minimum tax. He also talked about doubling the salary of Asha and Anganwadi workers. Gandhi said they are giving 2 guarantees to the farmers. The Congress party is going to waive off the farmers’ debts, and secondly, they are going to provide a guaranteed minimum support price to the farmers of India.

Congress leader even promised that his government would provide all diploma holders and graduates in India with the right to an apprenticeship. During the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections which are scheduled to be held on April 26, 4 constituencies in Bihar, including, Kishanganj, Bhagalpur, and Purnia ,Katihar will go for elections.

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2024 Lok Sabha Elections

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav says BJP’s 400 paar film has become a super flop on the first day itself

Tejashwi Yadav said the INDIA Bloc had held block wise meetings and the feedback that has come is very good that the BJP’s 400 paar film has flopped on day 1 of the Lok Sabha elections. He said the people of Bihar are aware and will teach BJP a lesson.

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After the first phase of the Lok Sabha election got completed, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Saturday took a dig at the Bharatiya Janata Party and said that the BJP’s 400 paar film has become a super flop on the first day itself. The RJD leader told that the media that there is no competition in the first phase of the elections as Bihar will give shocking results this time.

Yadav added that the Mahagathbandhan is winning all 4 seats in the first phase. He said the INDIA Bloc had held block wise meetings and the feedback that has come is very good that the BJP’s 400 paar film has flopped on day 1 of the Lok Sabha elections. He said the people of Bihar are aware and will teach BJP a lesson.

Tejashwi Yadav said there is no competition in the first phase. He said the people of Bihar will give shocking results this time. He added the BJP government has not done anything for the people of Bihar. He said the promises made by Modi ji in 2014 and 2019 were not fulfilled. Yadav added the public is tired of BJP’s statements and false promises. He said the opposition has promised that they will give a special package to Bihar along with special status.

Tejashwi Yadav said today the rally is with Rahul Gandhi ji in Bhagalpur. The entire INDIA Bloc and the Mahagathbandhan are working together. The RJD leader pointed out that unemployment is the biggest issue in Bihar. He said other important issues being faced by the people of Bihar are poverty, inflation, investment in the state. He said Migration and floods are also issues which need to be looked at.  He added the people of BJP are very worried. He said the people of BJP say that they will abolish the Constitution. He said those who destroy the Constitution will themselves be destroyed.

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2024 Lok Sabha Elections

Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes dig at Rahul Gandhi, says like Amethi, Congress will lose its ground from Wayanad also

PM Modi is currently on a visit to Maharashtra for election campaigning, and is campaigning for Mahayuti’s candidates from the parliamentary seat of Nanded Prataprao Patil Chikhlikar.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday made a prediction and said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will be driven away from his parliamentary constituency Wayanad and the party will have to find another safe seat for him. PM Modi, at a rally in Maharashtra’s Nanded, said Rahul Gandhi was chased away from Amethi by BJP leader Smriti Irani. PM Modi is currently on a visit to Maharashtra for election campaigning, and is campaigning for Mahayuti’s candidates from the parliamentary seat of Nanded Prataprao Patil Chikhlikar.

The Prime Minister said Congress ke shehzade, unhe bhi Wayanad mein sankat dikh raha hai…Jaise Amethi se bhagna pada, aap maan ke chaliye wo Wayanad bhi chodenge… (The Prince of Congress is facing a danger in Wayanad. Like he was made to escape Amethi, believe me, he will have to leave Wayanad as well).

PM Modi added Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has blasted Congress leader in such a language that even he did not use for them. He said he is sure Congress will look for another safe seat for its Shahjada after voting in Wayanad is over. He claimed that in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections, the people of the country voted for the BJP-led NDA. PM Modi said the INDIA bloc partners were fighting each other for 25 percent seats. He said if this is the situation now, what will they do after the election?

PM Modi addressed all the workers and leaders of other parties and said even if they felt that they are going to lose the elections then why should they work hard- he said they should work hard for democracy. Aaj nahin toh kal, kal nahin toh parso, parso nahin toh narso, arey kabhi to mauka aega (if not today, tomorrow, day after tomorrow, someday, you may get a chance).

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