NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday praised journalists for their commitment to reporting from difficult and dangerous situations, saying nothing was considered impossible in a newsroom.
Addressing a Diwali Milan programme at the BJP headquarters here, Modi said reporters covered earthquakes and floods at risk to their own lives while others moved to safety. He said they often set aside concerns for their families to bring updates from the ground.
Drawing a comparison between newsroom deadlines and national goals, Modi said deadlines helped set priorities and maintain momentum. He said India should work towards becoming a developed nation by 2047 through smaller, time-bound targets.
Recalling his days at 11 Ashoka Road, Modi said journalists had informed him in 2001 that he had become Gujarat Chief Minister. He said he was unaware of the development when journalists came to his room and demanded sweets to celebrate.
Modi said journalism had changed from the era of fax machines and outside broadcast vans to Instagram Reels and mobile-based reporting. He said mobile phones had effectively become the new outside broadcast vans.
He urged journalists to give greater coverage to India's achievements in mobile manufacturing, start-ups, UPI and infrastructure. He referred to pucca houses provided to four crore families and toilets provided to 12 crore households, and asked them to take India's success stories to a global audience.
Modi also called for greater awareness of drug addiction among young people and urged journalists to promote discussions on cleanliness, deepfakes, national unity and social harmony.
