Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Sunday called upon the media to adopt a corrective, constructive and non-partisan approach in dealing with various challenges the nation is facing.
Launching the Chandigarh edition of The Sunday Guardian, edited by noted journalist Mr M.J. Akbar, Hooda said: “All the stakeholders in our democracy need to engage ourselves in the task of nation building. We are experiencing new challenges, partly because of the impact of globalization and an explosion of information technology. At times, I have a feeling that we, as a nation, have not prepared ourselves to deal with these developments.”
Congratulating Mr Akbar and his colleagues for bringing out the Chandigarh edition of The Sunday Guardian, Hooda said that he has no doubt in his mind that the newspaper would come forward for this noble cause and help create an environment which would be conducive for the growth and prosperity of the nation. He recalled that in January 2010, Mr Akbar had launched the paper in Delhi and “it is indeed a matter of pride for the citizens of Chandigarh that this newspaper will be available for them as well”.
Punjab chief minister Prakash Singh Badal called upon all the political parties to sink their differences and work cohesively for the welfare and development of the state, instead of criticising each other just to gain political mileage, which was absolutely unwarranted but also against the moral values and ethics of a healthy democracy.
Badal asked the media persons to discharge their duties with utmost sincerity, dedication, honesty and professional commitment, since they were the upholders of the fourth estate and watchdog of democracy. He also urged the media to exercise restraint while reporting certain sensitive issues so that the national security, harmony and amity of the country was not threatened.
Seeking cooperation from the media in highlighting the developmental activities and policies of the government, Badal said media also owe a moral duty towards society to keep the public informed about the pro-people policies and programs of the government in a right perspective so as to benefit the common man at the grassroots level. He said his government was committed to respect and safeguard the independence of the media at all cost.
Speaking on the occasion, Punjab Governor and Administrator Shivraj V. Patil expressed the hope that The Sunday Guardian would prove to be one of the most sought after newspapers in the country. He said: “The demands and problems of 1.2 billion people of the country are enormous and complicated. All things that need be given to them can be counted in equally big numbers.”
“In last few years, the number of newspapers, magazines, journals, TV channels have gone up by leaps and bounds. Yet, more of them are needed. The space, the time, the knowledge are unlimited. Let us hope that The Sunday Guardian would protect the truth and justice,” he said.
Haryana Governor Jagannath Pahadia expressed the hope that the newspaper would become a milestone in journalism. Haryana Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Sharma and many dignitaries were present on the occasion.
In his welcome address, Mr Akbar said that Chandigarh is now emerging as the socially, culturally, emotionally and economically advanced city in the country and it would now soon become the media hub as several prestigious national and regional newspapers have already established their presence here. He hoped that the Chandigarh edition of The Sunday Guardian would play an instrumental role in the development and promotion of healthy journalism in the northern region.
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