Mumbai: Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar on Saturday said that "emergency mindset" continued during the UPA regime which curtailed media freedom in the country.
"After I became the I&B Minister, I was reviewing pending files in my ministry. I noticed that while many TV channels had got permissions to start operations, one proposal had been rejected....I checked the Home Ministry's report to find out the cause....I was shocked to see that the channel's proposal was rejected because one of the director's father was an RSS member," Javadekar said, speaking to reporters at a function.
"The Emergency Mindset had continued (during the UPA regime)," he said, referring to the curtailment of media freedom during the Emergency imposed by the Indira Gandhi-led government in 1975.
Javadekar attended as the Chief guest 'Narad Gaurav Puraskar' function organised by Vishwa Sanvad Kendra to felicitate journalists. He said that "the RSS was not a terrorist organisation but a school that taught patriotism," adding media should focus on highlighting positive news and abstain from sensationalism for high TRP.
"The freedom of press is essential, because we have worked hard for this freedom. But the freedom comes with a responsibility. Every media house should have its own independent internal mechanism to (help it) behave more responsibly," he added.
The massive mandate that BJP received in the Lok Sabha polls reflects the aspirations of the poor, he said, adding that the poor demand nothing except quality education for their children. "We are strongly committed to working for the development of the poor," he added.
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