Ahmedabad, May 24 (ANI): Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi launched the 17th edition of Business Line, the financial daily of The Hindu Group at a glittering function held here on Friday.
Observing the evolution of established media from print to electronic to social, Modi described it as a "healthy trend' reflecting popular aspirations.
Acknowledging that social media has empowered people like never before, the Gujarat chief minister said that it is regretable that those who protested against censorship during the Emergency in the 1975-77 period, have themselves become "intolerant".
Describing social media as a "new asset", he said: "This popular power is the victory of technology and an impact of the awareness about the social media."
Referring to the censorship during the Emergency, Modi recalled how he had himself been criticized over the last few years.
"The various Web sites are loaded with reports against me, but the readers' comments suggest that I have been on the right path", he said.
"I have never blocked criticism," he added.
He also distinguished between criticism and allegations, and said none gets anything out of the latter. The existing mindsets now try to block even criticism on social media. Without criticism, democracy cannot survive, he said.
Modi also sought to distinguish between the journalists and their media. "Some journalists who follow their paper's policies also write their personal opinions on their own blogs", he said, adding, "I have always welcomed criticism. We should be proud of criticism."
During his 40-minute speech in Hindi, Modi pointed out that despite being strong, media has had to follow popular aspirations, which he described as a healthy trend that has strengthened democracy.
He added that the accelerating pace of changes in technology and its absorption by the media has impacted the entire system of governance.
About Business Line, he said the paper would be benefited in a state known for its business-focused people. In turn, Gujarat will get more space in the multiple editions of the financial daily. "The paper should have come to Gujarat 10 years ago," he added.
Kris Gopalakrishnan, one of the founders and now Executive Co-Chairman of Infosys, who presided, applauded the impressive growth registered by Gujarat in various fields during the last decade. Modi is one of the few Indian leaders to have featured on the cover page of 'Time' magazine, he said, while describing him as a "global leader" of a state whose model of development was sought to be emulated by other Indian states.
He urged the Gujarat Government to leverage the use of information technology for a better, cleaner and faster dissemination of information. "IT has given unprecedented power to the individuals. We can't ignore the march of technology; we should leverage it.
Gopalkrishnan also praised Modi and Business Line for using technology.
"Here we have a newspaper and a leader who both understand the power of technology."
Earlier, D. Sampathkumar, in his welcome speech, narrated the growth of Business Line over the last 20 years of its journey.
Arun Anant, Chief Executive Officer, The Hindu Group of Publications, proposed a vote of thanks. (ANI)
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