Asserting that editorial freedom must be used wisely in the public interest, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday that media should ensure that it maintains credibility in news coverage.
Speaking at the 75 anniversary of Tamil daily Daily Thanthi at the Madras University Centenary hall, Modi said media should allocate space for increasing awareness about climate change since natural calamities were occurring at regular basis.
Observing that most media houses focused on politics, the prime minister said that achievement of citizens should also be highlighted.
“India has more than politics. It has over a billion people. The media should focus on people’s achievements,” he added. He also said healthy competition among media houses “is good for the health of democracy”.
Modi arrived here on a one-day visit to the city on Monday morning. Modi will also attend the wedding of the daughter of a senior IAS officer in the Prime Minister’s Office. After a brief stay, Modi will meet Karunanidhi at his Gopalapuram residence in the city before leaving for Delhi in the afternoon.
Earlier, at INS Adyar, Palaniswami told the prime minister about the recent rains and the damages caused to standing crops in in various districts of the state. Sources from the chief minister’s office here said that Palaniswami also submitted a memorandum seeking financial assistance for flood relief measures.
As part of security measures, over 10,000 police personnel were deployed in and around Madras University campus.
