Present facts, not prejudiced views: Siddu at NT launch

Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah has asked the media to present only facts before people and not prejudiced ideas.

Speaking after launching this national English daily on Thursday, the Congress leader said the media, be it print or visual, must make sure any mistakes committed by politicians, officers, businessmen or traders, are presented before the people with facts. This is because newspapers have been responsible for the fall of governments and the formation of governments too. They should never engage in ‘character assassination’ of anyone, he said remarking that there are ‘irresponsible papers’ which spread unwanted news, views and blind beliefs among people.

“When I was chief minister, a crow accidentally sat on my car. The whole day, television channels aired programmes inviting astrologers and discussing whether I would continue in power or not. Similarly, some wrote that any CM who visits Chamarajanagar would lose power.

But I visited the border district 12 times during my tenure. Going by that theory, I should have lost power a dozen times. Traditions and rituals are different from blind beliefs. Of late, some channels have a penchant to air programmes on family problems and I wonder who is interested in it?”, he said.

The former CM felt those who start newspapers must be aware of the profile of the country, society, people, politics and social and economic problems as it would help in understanding public sentiment. The print media must act as a watchdog and that is the reason why it has been described as the fourth pillar of democracy. In the current situation, running a newspaper without advertisements is difficult. Only a few newspapers run without advertisements. People must buy and read newspapers. ‘’Starting a new paper is adventurous and let ‘News Trail’ achieve success,’’ he said.

He recalled that the media played an important role during the preindependence period and worked as the engine of development in the postindependence era too. But now, it has lost credibility due to a few newspapers. What is required is a newspaper with credibility and unbiased reporting which has the guts to say what is wrong without compromise and without prejudice. Freedom of speech is very important and that should not be affected at any cost, he said.

Siddaramaiah recalled that ‘News Trail’ Editor Neena Gopal had come to his house for an interview earlier and had even written about the dosa prepared by his cook. ‘‘She wrote what she liked. Likewise, newspapers must write what people like’’.