Mumbai, July 13
Lauding the contribution of the media in nation-building, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that in recent times it has highlighted various policies of the government that do not fit anywhere in the vote bank politics and made them into the country's national discourse.
The media is not just a "mute spectator" of the conditions of the country; it plays a key role in giving direction to the country, PM Modi said while inaugurating the 'INS Towers', the new secretariat of the Indian Newspaper Society (INS) in Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai.
"Media has a natural role to create discourse to emphasize discussions on serious topics. However, the direction of media discourse often depends on the direction of government policies. There are always electoral considerations behind every action of the government, whether good or bad. After we came to power, we changed this thinking," he said.
"If we look at various policies of our government, like Swachh Bharat, Start Up India, Stand Up India, these do not fit anywhere in vote bank politics. But in changing India, our media have made them part of the country's national discourse," the Prime Minister said.
Speaking about one of the schemes undertaken by his government in the last decade, the Prime Minister spoke about his Digital India Mission, in which several people had their apprehensions, and pointed out that the country has created new records in digital transactions today.
"There was a time when some politicians used to say that digital transactions were not for India. They had a preconceived notion that modern technology can't work in this country. However, the world is witnessing the capabilities of the people of the country. Today, India is creating new records in digital transactions. Due to India's UPI and modern digital public infrastructure, the ease of living of people has improved, and it has become easier for them to send money across countries," PM Modi said.
"Today, our people, especially in the Gulf countries, are sending the maximum remittances. This has reduced their expense of sending money, and the digital revolution is one of the reasons for this change," he further added.
The prime minister said the media play an important role in "changing the conditions and giving direction to the country."
"Today India is in such a period when its journey of the next 25 years is very important. For India to become Viksit in these 25 years, the role of newspapers and magazines is equally big," PM Modi stressed.
Highlighting the role of media in making people realise their capabilities, PM Modi said, "Media awakens people of India, reminds them of their rights and makes them conscious of their capabilities. Any nation in which people are conscious of their capabilities, prospers."
Speaking about the Indian Newspaper Society, PM Modi said that being an organisation that existed from the time before the country's Independence, it is important that it works effectively as it, in turn, benefits the country.
"Indian Newspaper Society is one of the organisations that came into existence before independence. And that is why all of you have seen every ups and downs of the country's journey very closely, have lived it and have also made the general public aware about it. Therefore, the more effective your work becomes as an organization, the more the country will benefit from it," the Prime Minister said.
This was Narendra Modi's first visit to Mumbai after taking oath as Prime Minister for the third consecutive term on June 9, following the National Democratic Alliance (NDA)'s victory in the Lok Sabha polls.
PM Modi also launched and laid the foundation stone for various projects worth more than Rs 29,400 crore in Mumbai on Saturday.