New minister stresses on complete press freedom

[illusion8]

Javadekar takes charge as IandB Minister, stresses on press freedom, Video Gallry - Business Standard

New Delhi, May 27 (ANI): BJP leader Prakash Javadekar on Tuesday took to independent charge as the Minister of Information and Broadcasting. Javadekar said that he believed in freedom of press. He also said that the whole polity and media plays an important role in making democracy a success as it gives people choice of opinions. He added that there is no external regulation which works in media and constructive criticism will always be welcomed.

He wants to remove any and all external regulatory bodies to govern the press, good idea?

@VCheng, @genmirajborgza786, @Capt.Popeye

 

[VCheng]

Freedom of the Press is a great thing, but there must be some form of oversight to ensure that there are redress/grievance mechanisms available to ensure fairness for all.

 

[illusion8]

Freedom of the Press is a great thing, but there must be some form of oversight to ensure that there are redress/grievance mechanisms available to ensure fairness for all.

That's fine - I think what he is stressing on is removing all taboo's for the press and an overhanging censorship or guidelines issuing bodies. This would in essence also involve judiciary freedom in suing the press or increased safety against it.

Quite a surprising outlook in policy - especially coming from a BJP minister.

 

[VCheng]

That's fine - I think what he is stressing on is removing all taboo's for the press and an overhanging censorship or guidelines issuing bodies. This would in essence also involve judiciary freedom in suing the press or increased safety against it.

Quite a surprising outlook in policy - especially coming from a BJP minister.

Noble words, yes, but let us see what happens in reality.

 

[illusion8]

Noble words, yes, but let us see what happens in reality.

Was a pleasant surprise for the whole Indian press nonetheless.

 

[VCheng]

Was a pleasant surprise for the whole Indian press nonetheless.

Sure, it is still the honeymoon period for the new government. It is all hugs and kisses for a while.

 

[illusion8]

Sure, it is still the honeymoon period for the new government. It is all hugs and kisses for a while.

It's the thought that counts - and believing on the capabilities of the Indian press - they will hold it to the minister if he does not deliver. The background of the minister matters here too - his father has been a journalist for 40 years.

 

[VCheng]

It's the thought that counts - and believing on the capabilities of the Indian press - they will hold it to the minister if he does not deliver. The background of the minister matters here too - his father has been a journalist for 40 years.

Let me quote The Economist here, since much will depend on what direction the government takes:

QUOTE: "There are three main dangers. One is that Mr Modi turns out to be more of a Hindu nationalist than an economic reformer. He has spoken of “bringing everyone along”. But while he has already worshipped at the Ganges since his victory, promising to clean up the river sacred to Hindus, he has not brought himself to mention Muslims, who make up 15% of the population.

A second danger is that he is defeated by the country’s complexity. His efforts at reform, like all previous reformers’ efforts, may be overwhelmed by a combination of politics, bureaucracy and corruption. If that happens, India will be condemned to another generation or two of underachievement.

A third is that Mr Modi’s strength will go to his head, and he will rule as an autocrat, not a democrat—as Indira Gandhi did for a while. There are grounds for concern. After years of drift under Congress, some of the country’s institutions have rotted. The main police investigator is politically directed, the media can be bought, the central bank, which does not have statutory independence, has been bullied before, and Mr Modi has authoritarian tendencies." /QUOTE

 

[illusion8]

Let me quote The Economist here, since much will depend on what direction the government takes:

The I&B for e.g. is an independent charge, and the minister made a policy statement, the wheels will be put in motion based on that - we can all speculate wholesale about what direction a govt will take eventually, but policy statements and directions such as a completely free media is made out with lot of thought and points in the direction that the govt intends to take.

 

[VCheng]

The I&B for e.g. is an independent charge, and the minister made a policy statement, the wheels will be put in motion based on that - we can all speculate wholesale about what direction a govt will take eventually, but policy statements and directions such as a completely free media is made out with lot of thought and points in the direction that the govt intends to take.

If that is indeed the direction taken, as the statements says, then it will be a good thing, of course.